
Qass- 
Book. 




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m 



m.mwi iFDisir fsa 



MEMOIR 



OP 



ELDER JOHN PEAK, 



V ', 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



Thi3 shall be written for the generation to come.''...DAViu. 









PIUNTED BY J. HOWE, MERCHNTS ROW. 

1832. 



F? 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, on the 20tb 
^ay of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and tliirty-two, in the Clerk's Office of the Dis- 
iriat of Massachusetts. 






KECOMMENDATIONS. 



Boston, April 12, 1832. 
Having been informed, by tiie Rev. Joii?j Peak, that 
he intends to publish a brief narrative of tlie principal 
events of his life and ministry, we cordially exprcf^s our 
approbation of the plan, and our cojifidence that the 
book will be entitled to entire credit, and will be inter- 
esting and useful. The author belongs to a class of 
ministers now rapidly diminishing, who, in times and 
under circumstances less fivourable than the present 
preached the pure Gospel of the Saviour with simplicity 
and godly sincerety ; and who, by the blessing of God, 
were the instruments in converting many souls, and 
founding many of our most flourishing Churches. He 
has been infirm for several years, and is now aged. He 
is unable to labour regularly in the ministry, and has no 
resources for his support in his declining age. We hope 
that his Look will meet with an extensive and ready sale ; 
both because he needs pecuniary aid, and because the 
members of our churches may be profited by reading aa 
account of some of the trials through which the cause 
of truth has made its triumphant progress, and young 
ministers may be excited, amidst their superior advanta- 
ges, to imitate the humble piety and sell-denying zeaJ 
©f their predecessors. 

L. BOLLES, 
DANIEL SHARP, 
JAMES D. KNOWLES, 
\VM. HAGUE, 



Worcester, April 2, 1832. 

Dear Sir, I have often regretted that we know so little 

of the character, labours and privations of the early 

Baptist Ministers of New England. I was, therefore, 

gratified to learn that you contemplated publishing a 



memoir of your life. It will throw light on the early 
history of the Baptists in an interesting section of Ver- 
mont and New Hampshire. The first sermon I recol- 
lect to have heard was from yourself, and founded on 
Job vii. G ; "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, 
and are spent without hope." It was at a funeral in my 
neighbourhood, when I must have been six years of age. 
Soon after, while seeing a woman weaving, and noticing 
the rapid motion of her shuttle, I found a difficulty in 
believing that time flew as rapidly. Experience, how- 
ever, has corrected my error. How is it, that every year 
seems shorter than the preceding one? 

I sincerely wish that your last days may be serene, 
and your death peaceful ; and I hope that the publica- 
tion of your memoir may afford you some pecuniary aid : 
a circumstance, quite desirable to most of those minis- 
tors who bore the heat and burden of the day. 
With great respect, I am, &.c. 

JONA. GOING. 



Charlesfown, April 17, 1832. 
My dear Friend, I do sincerely hope, that the account 
of your life, which you have informed me you intend 
soon to publish, will prove not only interesting and valu- 
able to the Christian public, but a source of pecuniary 
aid to yourself, which aid, under your many bodily in- 
firmities, you now very much need. The Lord grant that 
his blessing may attend you, and that the evening of 
your days may be serene and happy, and the hour of 
your departure, the introduction to a glorious immortali- 
ty, through the grace of Him who became poor, that we, 
through his poverty, might be made rich. 
Affectionately yours, 

HENRY JACKSON, 

Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Charleatown, Most. 

Rev. John Peak. 



PREFACE. 



In attempting to write a sketch of the principal 
events of niy life and ministry, no attempt will 
be made at an affected style, to amuse the fancy . 
of the reader. Were the writer capable of elo- 
quence of style, it would not accord with the ob- 
ject of giving a plain narrative of interesting facts. 

To one who, through infirmities of age, has of 
necessity become less active, it affords a kind of 
melancholy pleasure, to call to mind seasons long 
since past ; especially such as were c<mnected 
with a chain of events exciting alarm and fore- 
boding fears of some dire calamity, and yet ter- 
minating in a desirable and joyful manner. The 
forbearance and kindness of our heavenly Father, 
have been very great, which ought to be acknowl- 
edged with humble and devout gratitude ; calling 
to mind numerous instances of the interposition 
of divine goodness, manifest in the preservation of 
a poor sinful creature, excites in me at this mo- 
ment the tender emotions of overflowing gratitude 
to our gracious Benefactor. 

It appears to me a difficult task for an old man 
to write a faithful impartial history of his own life. 
It is truly deliglitful to speak of the riches of di- 
vine grace in which I have been led to hope, of 
1* 



6 

the consolations of Christ, the comforts of loVe, 
and fellowship of the Spirit. It is cheering to the 
believer, to contemplate the glories of the Son of 
God, his attributes, offices, Vvork of redemption, 
intercession, promises, &c. ; but I have nothing 
good to say of myself. If I proceed to mention 
some things which I have experienced of the good 
hand of God, upon mc, and his blessing granted 
to give my feeble ministry success, I wish no one 
to entertain the thought that it is my object to 
set forth myself as an example to others, for I 
wish no one to live such a life ; to say the least, in 
every thing I have come short, and in many things 
offended. 

In attempting such a history, another difficulty 
presents itself. By the great fire at Newburyport, 
in 1811, my dwelling house was burnt, and there- 
with the best part of my manuscripts. This I 
have ever felt a great loss ; and now, if I proceed, 
I shall feel the want of those papers to assist my 
memory in reciting some interesting events, as weli 
as names, dates, numbers, &c. This circumstance 
will be admitted as an apology for any deficien- 
cies as the necessary result. With these prelim- 
inaries, if life and health is continued, I think to 
proceed to write a brief sketch of my life, to 
which I am stimulated by the advice of friends, 
whose judgment and candour I am accustomed to 
hold in the highest estimation. 



MEMOIR OF ELDER JOHN PEAK. 



CHAPTER I 

I WAS born in Walpole, N. H. Septem- 
ber 26, 1761. My father and mother were 
natives of Woodstock and Ashford, Conn. 
In the summer of 1755, my father and 
grandfather, in company with John Kii- 
born, his son and daughter, went from Con- 
necticut to said Walpole, before a grant of 
the town was obtained, with a view to oc- 
cupy the meadows which had been left by 
the Indians. After their arrival they were 
informed that the French war had com- 
menced. They built themselves a block- 
house for their defence, and continued to 
work on the land. Several hundreds of 
the Canadian Indians soon arrived ; for sev- 
eral days they made violent assaults upon 
the house and then left the region. Our 
friends, having guns and ammunition, made 
the best defence they could. One bullet 
entered a crevice of the building, wounded 
my grandfather, of which he died the fourth 
day. Dr. Belknap, in his History of New 
Hampshire, gives an account of this event, 



s 

but by mistake spells my father's name 
Pike. Afterwards the adventurers return- 
ed to Connecticut. 

My father enlisted into the king's ser* 
vice, and was stationed for some time at 
Crown Point. He returned to Connecti- 
cut at the close of the war, in 1759. He 
married, went to VValpole, and resided there 
about four years. It is believed that I was 
the second English child born in that town. 

My parents moved from Walpole to Clar- 
emont, with two children, before the town 
was incorporated, about 1764. At that time 
there were but about five or six log cabins 
in that now populous and flourishing town. 
Here my honoured parents commenced 
their residence in the wilderness, erected 
their cabin, cut down the forest, cultivated 
the rich soil, and lived to see the wilder- 
ness become a fruitful field. For a time, 
the first settlers endured great privations. 
Accordino; to my recollection, I never saw 
any school till I was in my eleventh year, 
but my mother took great care to teach her 
children, so that I had become quite a 
reader. 

About the year 1767, by the kind and 
diligent attention of my good mother, I had 
committed to memory the Ten Command- 
ments, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's 
Creed, with a j)ortion of the Westminster 
Assembly's Shorter Catechism, portions of 
the Holy Scriptures, some of Watts' Divine 



9 

Songs for children, &c. The truths here- 
by impressed on my mind, led me to some 
solemn contemplations on the being and at- 
tributes of the great Creator. It appeared 
to me that he made the heavens and earth, 
and all creatures and things which exist ; 
that the great all-seeing eye of God was 
upon me by night and by day, and that he 
knew all my secret thoughts and actions; 
that every transgression of his holy com- 
mandments, even in thought, was a great 
sin in his sight, and exposed transgressors 
to a dreadful punishment. At times, these 
reflections filled me with great horror, for 
I saw that I was guilty of disregarding the 
holy Sabbath, disobeying my parents, and 
in not telling the truth, &c. I endeavour- 
ed to remove my fears by repeating my 
prayers, Avith resolutions to avoid those sins 
in future. But instead of any reformation, 
it appears to me that I became gradually 
more and more hardened in sin ; and the 
forbearance of God, that I was not cut off* 
in my sins in early childhood, seems the 
more extraordinary, because it is evident 
that I sinned against greater light than 
many others at this age. And I think that 
children are capable of receiving good im- 
pressions from religious instruction at an 
earlier period than has generally been ap- 
prehended. 

About 1770, the people became so nu- 
merous, that they held two meetings for 



10 

public worship ; one Episcopalian and one 
Conofregrationai. In the latter, a church 
was gathered, a minister settled, and my 
parents were members. Now, according to 
custom, the children must be dedicated in 
a public manner by a ceremony called 
baptism. My parents had five to pass un- 
der the solemn rite. I do not recollect any 
serious thoughts on the subject ; I felt, 
however, a kind of boyish diffidence in be- 
ing thus exposed before the assembly, was 
glad when it was over, and thought little 
more of it. Thus I pursued a wicked 
course till my good mother was taken sick, 
and languished with a consumption about 
eighteen months, and died Dec. SO, 1774. 
The gospel gave her great consolation and 
hope in the near approach of death. She 
frequently talked very affectionately to her 
children, telling us that she hoped to be 
happy after death, and that we must pre- 
pare to follow her. I being the oldest, she 
said more to me and my sister, two years 
younger, than to the rest, though we all by 
ner request were frequently arranged by 
the bedside to hear her addresses. She 
exhorted us to remember our Creator in 
the days of our youth ; to seek first the 
kingdom of heaven and the righteousness 
thereof; to render due respect and obe- 
dience to our honoured father ; to be affec- 
tionate, kind and attentive to the younger 
children, &c. 



11 

For a while after her decease, the sol- 
emn admonitions, warnings and affectionate 
coiincil of a dying parent, had some effect 
on my mind. I now was more constant in 
saying my prayers, and abstained from some 
vicious habits ; read the Holy Bible more, 
which I had read through more than once. 
These serious impressions by degrees wore 
off, and it grieves me to think what a care- 
less wicked course I pursued for many 
years. Not without frequent checks of 
conscience, for 1 could not divest myself of 
the conviction that the great all-seeing eye 
of Jehovah was ever upon me, and that he 
hated wickedness, and is jealous for the 
honour of his name, and will bring us into 
judgment. Although I sometimes took his 
name in vain, and indulged in profane lan- 
guage, in imitation of profane persons with 
whom I associated, yet, afterwards, it filled 
me with horror to reflect on my wicked- 
ness. But such was the deep rooted de- 
pravity of my heart, my love to the pleas- 
ures of sin, and such my aversion to true 
religion, that I lived in neglect of its du- 
ties, and became more and more hardened 
in iniquity ; and yet so blinded by self-flat- 
tery as to indulge the vain thought that I 
was not so wicked as many of my asso- 
ciates ; and when some of my superiors 
were injudicious enough to pronounce me 
a good hearted innocent young man, I was 
quite elated, and thought much of mysel£ 



12 

Thus I went on deceiving myself and being 
deceived. At other times, when I was re- 
proved for some presumptuous sin, I was 
filled with bitter remorse and fear lest I 
should be wholly given over to ruin. I 
was much addicted to sinful pleasures, and 
vain amusements, but felt but little guilt 
on this account ; for such indulgencies were 
considered by old people innocent amuse- 
ments and civil recreations. 

I proceed to give some account of a scene 
of affliction which I endured, the painful 
effects of which, I have felt to this day. 

In April, 1775, the revolutionary war 
commenced in the battle at Lexington. 
Now the whole country was in a state of 
alarm, and my mind was fired with the am- 
bitious thought that I should soon be old 
enough to pass muster, and enter the field 
of contest. But while the spirit of war 
was beating high in every pulse, and I was 
about to offer myself as a volunteer, I was, 
in Dec. 1777, taken down with a violent at- 
tack of the rheumatic fever ; an indescriba- 
ble pain seated in my right hip, so great, 
that for several days and nights I was de- 
prived of the exercise of my reason, and 
for thirty or forty days w^as unable to turn 
myself in bed. But as the pain subsided, 
I began to move, and in March was able to 
set up and walk with crutches, but found 
my hip joint was dislocated, my knee plac- 
ed forward horizontally at about right an- 



13 

gles, with my body erect. In July follow- 
ing, having ret^eivecl but little sensible re- 
lief by the applications of Dr. Stearns, who 
had attended me, I had a desire to consult 
Dr. Chase, of Cornish, who was famed for 
great skill. I rode very slow on horseback, 
with both feet on the left side, in great 
pain. When I arrived, the doctor took me 
off in his arms, laid me on a bed, examined 
my hip, and told me it was out of joint. I 
requested him to put it in place ; but he 
told me that it could not be done. It had 
been out so long that a large callous was 
formed about the joint, and so hard that it 
could not be broken. This information 
was to me painful beyond description ; I 
could hardly endure the thought that I must 
be lame as long as I lived. The doctor 
tried to cheer me by saying he would give 
me a strengthening plaster, and that in a 
little time I should gather strength and walk 
about spry, but must be lame. The kind 
doctor put me on a horse, and I set off for 
home with a heavy heart, having three 
miles to ride in great misery, with a gloomy 
prospect before me. I wept most of the 
way home. When I arrived at my father's 
house, in attempting to get off the horse, 
I fell, with my lame hip upon the hard 
ground. So great was the shock, that my 
pain was beyond description. I thought I 
could live but a few minutes. My friends 
took me up and laid me on a bed, when I 
2 



14 

found my hip was set in place. I thought 
but little of my pain for joy of heart that 
my leg was straight with the other. For 
several weeks I was in a very feeble state, 
but gained strength slowly till I was able 
to walk with a staff; and being unable to 
work on the farm, was sent out of town to 
school. By this circumstance I obtained a 
better education than I should have done 
if I had been able to work. 

I continued to gain strength till May, 
1778, when I commenced labouring on the 
farm, attended with pain. But hopeing, as I 
was told, that I should work off my com- 
plaints, I persevered till June, when I was 
again attacked with the rheumatic fever, in 
consequence, as I suppose, of standing in 
cold water to wash about forty sheep. My 
pain was not so great as I had endured, but 
was seated mostly in my left hip ; I was 
unable to move, or be moved but very little 
for about two months. I lay mostly on my 
back, a part of the time bolstered up. I 
amused myself by reading sundry volumes 
and making straw hats, which were in great 
demand during the v\^ar. About the last of 
August, I was able to walk a little with a 
staff, but found my left hip was twisted 
partly round in the socket, and so it has 
remained to this day. 

It was now concluded that I should never 
be able to obtain a livelihood by labouring 
en the land. Having read several volumes 



15 

on medicine and surger}^ I had a great de- 
sire to study with a physician, but my 
father had no income but that of a small 
farm, and had been at great expense by 
sickness, and was some involved, therefore 
he thought he could not well support me 
in my favourite studies, but consented that 
I should enter as an apprentice with a shoe- 
maker or tailor ; I chose the latter. I was 
bound an apprentice to Mr. Charles Bowen, 
of Charlestown, N. H. in Sept. 1778. As 
to the state of my mind, during my painful 
afflictions for near two years before, it gives 
me pain to relate the fact that I was in a 
most hardened stupid state. I have no re- 
collection that I ever seriously prayed to 
God for relief in all my distress ; or that I 
had any serious concern for my soul's sal- 
vation. I do not remember that I had any 
proper sense of my guilt and wickedness, 
and yet I know I was very wicked, for I 
murmured against God, was unreconciled 
to his government in the kingdom of his 
providence. I suppose 1 concealed my 
feelings in a great degree from my friends, 
for I do not recollect that they reproved 
me for my impatience. Instead of mur- 
muring, I had much cause for gratitude; 
my parents were indulgent, my good step- 
mother did every thing she could to ease 
me in my distress ; my brothers and sisters 
were kind, and I wanted for nothing that 
my good friends could do for me. 



16 

When I arrived in Charlestown, I found 
myself in the midst of a very profane wick- 
ed people. I soon heard more profaneness, 
and saw more drunkenness, gambling and 
boxing, than I had ever witnessed before. 
At first these outrages shocked my feelings; 
but after a while I became more indifferent 
to them ; sometimes I was the object of 
ridicule, because I could not go all lengths 
in their blasphemous and horrid wicked- 
ness. This, however, was not on account 
of any goodness in me, for I was destitute 
of any religious principle, but was in some 
measure restrained by a kind of torment- 
ing fear. Perhaps this prevented me from 
being caught in any of their quarrels or 
drunken frolics. To what was called civil 
recreation and innocent amusement, I had 
no objection. Thus I went on, misim- 
proving precious time, and treasuring up 
wrath against the day of wrath, and was 
doubtless more guilty than others who went 
to greater lengths in outward wickedness, 
as I had convictions of my accountability 
to my Maker, which I could not wholly 
shake off. Mr. Bowen, with whom I liv- 
ed, was a very industrious, sensible, honest 
man, and a good workman. 

After I left Mr. Bowen, by agreement, 
a short time before I was twenty-one years 
of age, I went to Piermont, N. H. fifty 
miles up the river, North of Claremont. 
Here I was invited by some friends who 



17 

had recently moved from Charlestown, to 
set up my business. Here I was associated 
with a kind, civil and industrious people. 
I had now so far recovered my health and 
the use of my limbs, that I was able to walk 
several miles at a time without a staff. By 
my industry, I soon became able to pur- 
chase a few acres of land near the meeting- 
house, on which I built a house. 

In 1782, I was married to Miss Esther 
Stow, daughter of Major Josiah Stow, of 
Bath, N. H. I was now happily situated 
with a cheering prospect of obtaining a 
comfortable living ; but like the people 
with whom I associated, I lived according 
to the course of this world ; thought very 
little of a future state, or of the salvation 
of my soul ; I seldom heard any thing of a 
religious nature except what I heard from 
the pulpit, and that was not interesting to 
me. I do not remember that my mind was 
ever impressed on the subject of religion 
in any special manner while I lived in Pier- 
mont, but once ; that was when, for the first 
time, I heard a Baptist preacher in Brad- 
ford, whose name was Haynes. His solemn 
and faithful address deeply affected me. I 
felt myself a wicked, gui^ y creature. I re- 
solved, and really thought for a few hours, 
that I should lead a new life. But alas ! in 
a short time I became as careless as ever. 
Thus I continued till my honoured father 
came to see me, and proposed that I should 
2* 



sell my place and move to Claremont, and 
occupy a part of his house, and take the 
care of his farm. He was feeble in health, 
and although I had two brothers, one of 
them was a surveyor of land, and the other 
a blacksmith, neither of them inclined to 
have the care of the farm. His proposals 
were, that he would give me a warranty 
deed of half the farm, taking to himself a 
lease during his life, on condition that I 
should take good care of the whole farm 
and stock, oxen, cows, horse, sheep, &c. 
and pay over to him one half of the in- 
come annually. It was not expected that 
I should work much on the farm, but by 
my trade procure labourers, oversee the 
business, &c* It was understood that I 
should build on my half of the farm and 
occupy it as I might think best. After due 
consideration, I consented to his proposi- 
tions ; sold my place, and my wife and lit- 
tle son, nearly two years old, moved to 
Claremont, in March 1785. Now I engag- 
ed in business with alacrity, procured tim- 
ber, boards, nails, glass, bricks, &c. for build- 
ing my house ; carried on a share of a brick- 
kiln, and as the spring advanced, hired la- 
bourers, repaired fences, ploughed up the 
rich soil, planted, sowed, and tilled the 
ground with all diligence. The season was 
favourable and the ground brought forth 
abundantly. Thus we went on pleasantly, 



19 

tin my attention was specially arrested by 
the great subject of religion. 

It is now proper that I should give some 
account of the state of religion in ihistown. 

There were at this time three meetings 
in which public preaching was attended; 
one Congregational society, large and re- 
spectable ; Rev. Augustus Hubbard was 
their minister, but I believe he was never 
accused of being overmuch righteous ; one 
Episcopalian, large and respectable ; Rev. 
Mr. Barber was their minister, who after- 
wards joined the Roman Catholics. The 
other an infant Baptist society, Mr. John 
Peckins, about thirty-one years of age, had 
been a respected citizen in the town for 
several years, but had lately professed a 
change and united with a Baptist Church 
in Woodstock, Vt. and licensed to preach. 
He lived near us, and set up a meeting in 
a vacant dwelling-house in our neighbour- 
hood. Here we attended, and most of the 
people in the vicinity. He was considered 
an able zealous preacher, and the place 
was generally well filled with attentive 
hearers. But he was hated, and had evil 
things said of him by many of the ungodly, 
for his plain and faithful preaching. His 
doctrine was considered by many as new ; 
for, till he rose a witness for the truth, the 
necessity of a change of heart and life, was 
seldom named, and the most dangerous 
heresies were boldly advocated. The mor- 



20 

als of the people had ])een progressing 
from bad to worse since the commencement 
of the war. But there were a few who 
could witness for the truth, and their num- 
ber increased. 

In the next chapter I shall give some ac- 
count of the exercises of my mind, which 
led me to hope in the mercy of God, 



CHAPTER IL 

I SHALL now proceed to give some ac- 
count of the exercises of mind which led 
me to hope in the mercy of God. 

According to the best of my recollection, 
when I first heard Mr. Peckins, I went in 
as dark and stupid a state of mind as usual, 
and even felt a contempt for the man who 
should attempt to preach without college 
learning, and I had no thought of attending 
his meeting constantly. But when I had 
heard him, I knew not what to think of his 
preaching; for I perceived that many things 
which he said were true ; and yet 1 said to 
a godly woman, that a man as ignorant as 
Mr. Peckins was, ought not to preach ; at 
which her countenance fell, being grieved, 
as I suppose, for the hardness of my heart. 
But the more I heard him, the more I was 
convinced that he preached the truth of the 
Bible more clearly than I ever had heard. 
Sometimes I was affected to tears, at other 
times my heart would rise in opposition to 
the doctrine, and yet I thought it was in 
accordance with the Scriptures of Truth. 
Again I would feel so much impressed 
under a sermon, that I would resolve on 
amendment of life ; but still pursued the 
same course. I became much attached to 



22 

the meeting, however. I collected a com- 
pany of young people, set up a singing 
school, and led the singing in public. I 
was often so deeply impressed under the 
preaching that I wished myself out of meet- 
ing, that I might give vent to my tears ; but 
when I was out of meeting, I seldom felt 
inclined to weep ; but often had very sol- 
emn meditations while I reflected on my 
sinful guilty state. I could not suppress 
the fear that I should be given over to a 
reprobate mind, if I was not already. All 
this time, from March till August, it appears 
to me that I had no proper sense of the evil 
of sin, or of the infinite beauty of holiness ; 
but was tormented w ith a guilty conscience, 
and with my opposition to the truth of God. 
Thus I continued to be more or less anx- 
ious on this momentous subject, till the 8th 
of June, when, for the first time, I heard 
the late Dr. Baldwin preach in Claremont, 
from Ephesians, ii. 12. " That at that time 
ye were without Christ, being aliens from 
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers 
from the covenants of promise, having no 
hope, and without God in the world." The 
reading of the text made a deep impression 
on my mind. It struck me sensibly that I 
was the very character there described. 
The preacher illustrated the subject in a 
very clear manner, and addressed the peo- 
ple in a solemn, affectionate and impressive 
^tyle. I listened with astonishment and ad- 



23 

tniration. Mr. Samuel Lewis, a man near 
fifty years of age, in a very audible manner, 
related his experience, as a candidate for 
baptism. He was brother to the late Elder 
Abner Lewis. This was the first Christian 
experience I had heard. The assembly 
was large for the place, many pious people 
having come from neighbouring towns, who 
appeared to be much animated. They sung 
a hymn on the sufferings of Christ, and an- 
other on Christian union, in a manner I had 
never heard before. As they moved out of 
the house, they formed a circle around Mr. 
Baldwin, on the ground before the door, and 
he conversed with them individually. Ma- 
ny of the young people were much affected. 
I wished to hear all he said, but endeavour- 
ed to keep at a cautious distance, not wish- 
ing him to speak to me as he did to others. 
As he advanced toward me, I moved round 
in his rear. At length he turned suddenly 
and took me by the hand, and asked my 
name. I told him. He replied, that "it is 
a matter of no consequence what your name 
is, if it be written in the Lamb's book of 
life." He said no more to me, and I retired. 
But this was as a nail fastened in a sure 
place. Eternity, with all its dread realities, 
seemed to lie open to my view, and this life, 
with all its fascinating charms, appeared an 
empty shadow. I could no longer indulge 
in vain and trifling conversation as before. 
I now commenced a most inveterate con- 



24 

troversy with the doctrine of salvation by 
grace. I could see no consistency in this 
doctrine with my accountability. This ren- 
dered me very unhappy. I attended, how- 
ever, regularly to my business ; nothing of 
this kind suffered by my neglect ; but I 
went about the fields in deep solitude. I 
could not give up the holy Bible as divinely 
inspired. I read and pondered on the Scrip- 
tures with deep solicitude ; but when 1 read 
the ninth chapter of Romans and first of 
Ephesians, and some other parts of like im- 
port, I wished them out of the Bible. I 
thought if the doctrine there stated was 
true, it did more harm than good. But I 
have since found that it was because I was 
unreconciled to God, that these truths ren- 
dered me unhappy. Now I can see that if 
all those holy truths, with which I was then 
displeased, could have been annihilated, 
there would have been no salvation for me. 
Thus I continued, without disclosing my 
thoughts and feelings to any person, till 
some time in July, when the before-named 
Mr. Samuel Lewis invited me to walk with 
him in the garden, and there very tenderly 
inquired into the state of my mind in regard 
to the great subject of religion. In reply, 
I frankly told him, that I had come to this 
conclusion, that if I could know that God 
would save me from the wrath to come, I 
would devote myself to his service the re- 
mainder of my life. But he told me I would 



25 

never know whether he would save me from 
the wrath to come, till I submitted myself 
into his hands to be at his wise disposal with- 
out reserve or condition. But this gave me 
no relief, for I could nat understand how I 
could give up myself to the service of God, 
till I knew that he would save me. The 
truth of the case is, I had no love to him or 
his holy service. Thus my mind was in- 
volved in moral darkness, and I felt myself 
so aAvfully wicked and guilty, that I did not 
dare to pray for divine help. One morning I 
rose early, after a sleepless night, and set off 
to have some conversation with Mr. Peckins, 
I found him in his garden ; and after ex- 
changing a fevi words, I told him I wished 
for a little conversation. He invited me in- 
to the house, and asked me what subject I 
wished to converse on. I told him I could 
not understand the consistency of the doc- 
trine he preached. "In what respect?^' 
said he. '^ I understand you to say, that all 
men are entirely depraved, destitute of any 
thing spiritually good." *' Well, is not this 
sentiment according to the Bible ?" " I do 
not know but it is, but I want to see the 
consistency of the system ; for I understand 
you to say that we are bound in duty to re- 
pent and believe the gospel." " And, is 
not that according to the word 7" " Perhaps 
it is, but you say again, that we are dead in 
sin, and dependent on the Holy Spirit, to 
quicken us and work within us all that is 
3 



26 

well pleasing in his sight." These, and 
other difficulties I named, to which he re- 
plied in a very kind and tender manner, 
and closed by saying that the natural man 
receiveth not the things of the Spirit, &c. 
expressing his desire for my everlasting 
good. As I left him, I felt elated with van- 
ity, thinking that I had neai^ly confounded 
him with my strong arguments. But 1 had 
scarcely advanced thirty )'ods from his house, 
before a powerful conviction came over my 
mindj that my contention was not with the 
minister, but with God ! I was now con- 
vinced that the sin-extenuating pleas I had 
employed, only rendered me more vile, and 
if I did not acknov/ledge the justice of my 
condemnation, I could not acknowledge 
grace in forgiveness. If salvation be by 
grace, then it is not of debt. If not of debt, 
then God is under no obligation to the im- 
penitent sinner. If the sinner is so at en- 
mity against God, and in love with his sins, 
that nothing short of the divine influence 
will incline him to forsake his sins and turn 
unto the Lord, then he is at the disposal of 
the Sovereign of the universe, as clay is in 
the hand of the potter. Plere I was brought 
to a stand. I was dumb with silence. Ev- 
ery refuge failed me. I reflected on my 
broken vows, promises and resolutions, calls 
and warnings, which I had slighted. I was 
overwhelmed with deep solemnity. For a 
few days I was inclined to think that I was 



27 

given up to a reprobate mind. I had no 
hope, nor much fear. I could neither weep 
nor rejoice. With such views and feelings, 
on the 6th of August, 1785, I went into the 
field to perform an hours work alone. Here 
I had such views and manifestations as I 
have never been able to describe. My 
mind seemed suddenly illuminated, and I 
was led to contemplate the holiness, love, 
goodness and wisdom of God, displayed in 
the wonderful plan of salvation, in a light 
I had never viewed it before. I had con- 
sidered the subject in detached parts ; but 
now my mind was led to contemplate the 
great plan of God's everlasting love, as one 
uniform consistent whole. The Lord Je- 
sus Christ appeared a Lamb slain, in the 
divine purpose, from the foundation of the 
world ; set up from everlasting, as the glori- 
ous Mediator between God and man. In 
him I beheld the majesty and glory of the 
divine attributes, to meet in perfect harmo- 
ny, and shine forth in the most illustrious 
manner; full of grace and truth, and able 
to save, to the uttermost, all that come to 
God by him. In the covenant of redemp- 
tion, a kingdom, or church, was made sure 
to him, to be gathered out of this apostate 
world. When upon earth, he appeard Im- 
MANUEL, God with us. The tokens of di- 
vine majesty, attended him through life. In 
a word, he appeared to me one with the 
Father, equal in glory and power, and alto* 



28 

gether lovely. In my imagination, I beheld 
glorified saints and angels casting their 
crowns before him, in humble prostration, 
adoring and worshiping the eternal Soiv of 
God, while all heaven resounded his praise. 
Several passages in holy writ were brought 
to my recollection ; some of which, were as 
follows : " Great is the mystery of godli- 
ness. God, manifest in the flesh." " The 
Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, 
and we beheld his glory." '' Glory to God 
in the highest, on earth peace, and good will 
toward men." " God was in Christ, recon- 
ciling the world unto himself." *' Blessed 
is the people, that know the joyful sound," 
&c. My mind was so absorbed in the sub- 
ject, as I stood by a tree, that I seemed to 
think of nothing else. I recollected that 
my father rode to the field, and spoke, but 
I had no recollection of what was said by 
him or me. On inquiry, he told me that 
he asked me a question, but I took no no- 
tice, and he rode away. As I returned from 
the field, I thought of my ingratitude and 
great unworthiness, with tenderness. I 
wept freely, while I thought of the good- 
ness and forbearance of God. I entered a 
room by myself, took the holy Bible, and 
opened at the 9th of Romans, which I had 
often read with very diflerent feelings from 
what I then possessed. As my eye passed 
over the chapter the views I had entertain- 
ed in the field were brought fresh to my 



29 

mind, accompanied with many tears. I re- 
tired to the orchard, fell prostrate on the 
grass, and gave vent to my tears and groans. 
It appeared to me a marvellous thing, that 
the sparing mercy of God had preserved so 
great a sinner so long. As yet, I had no 
thought that I was interested in the great 
salvation, or that I ever should be ; and 
yet I returned to the house deeply im- 
pressed v/ith a sense of the great duty of 
family worship. Besides my wife, who was 
now under great concern for her soul, I had 
a pious sister and a young man in my fami- 
ly. It was now a grief to me that I had so 
long neglected my duty in this thing, and 
yet knew not how I could commence fami- 
ly prayer. But, after much conflict, I re- 
solved I would commence. On Sabbath 
morning I rose early ; and as I sat reading 
the Bible my pious sister told me that break- 
fast was ready. I said I would try to pray. 
She said her heart should join with me. 
This affected me. With great purturbation 
I commenced, and uttered a few sentences, 
which greatly relieved my mind in this re- 
spect. This day I went to Windsor, six 
miles, to meeting, and heard preaching 
with different feelings from what I had 
ever done before. 

Lord's-day, August 9, on my way from 
Claremont to Windsor, I beheld the pow- 
er, wisdom and glory of the great Creator, 
displayed in a manner I had never before 
3* 



30 

realized. The whole earth appeared to be 
full of the glory of the Lord. In the fore- 
noon Mr. Peckins preached. I thought I 
never heard him preach so before. The 
same sentiments which I had formerly dis- 
liked, were now excellent. But when I 
heard Mr. Joel Butler, whom I had never 
seen, I was astonished beyond measure. 
Text, 1 John, iv. 8, " God is love." He 
illustrated the sentiment by showing that 
love is manifested in the works of creation 
and providence ; in the moral law, which 
requires us to love God and one another: 
In conformity to this law, we should honour 
our Maker and improve our mental powers 
to the highest possible degree, and render 
ourselves and one another truly happy ; and 
there was no v/ay in which man couid so di- 
rectly and fatally destroy himself, as to 
break over this wall of love, and trample 
upon the authority of his Maker : — The 
love of God is manifested in the gift of his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth on him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life : — The love of God was 
manifested in the stupendous work of man's 
redemption. Here he w^as very solemn and 
interesting. The love of God is manifested 
in the awaking, convincing, renewing and 
sanctifying his people, and shedding abroad[ 
his love in their hearts : — And it is aiso man- 
ifested by its fruits and effects upon the 
subjects of it, inclining them to love Gop, 



31 

and the children of God, and his holy wor- 
ship and service : — It excites in them en- 
larged desires, benevolent concern for poor 
souls, who know nothing of this love : — 
They are hereby moved to pity and com- 
passion, and fervent prayer and earnest sup- 
plication for poor Christless sinners, that 
they may be saved : — The love of God pre- 
pares his people for heaven, the world of 
of love : — There they Aviil be perfect in 
love, and that for ever : — It is manifested 
also in its perpetuity, &c. 

He closed with suitable addresses to the 
different classes of his audience. The as- 
sembly was large for a private house, and 
even thronged. I stood during the sermon. 
When the preacher commenced I was in an 
opposite part of the assembly from him. 
But the discourse was so congenial with my 
views in the field three days before, my 
contemplations in the morning, and my 
present feelings, that I was swallowed up 
with it. Not knowing what I did, it seems 
that I urged myself through the crowd by 
degrees, step by step, till I found myself, at 
the close, by the table, opposite the preach- 
er, bathed in tears. For a moment, I was 
surprised and mortified. I tarried to wit- 
ness the communion of the saints, which ap- 
peared to be a feast of holy love. While I 
beheld the solemn scene, several passages 
of holy writ came to my mind, such as the 
following : *' Entreat me not to return from 



3d 

following after thee ; for thy people is my 
people, and thy God is my God," &c. 
** Behold how good and how pleasant it is 
for brethren to dwell together in unity," 
&c. "As often as ye do this, ye do show 
forth the Lord's death till he come." "We 
know we have passed from death unto life, 
because we love the brethren," &c. I now 
felt inexpressibly happy in contemplating 
the character of God. It was a pleasure to 
think I was in his hand, and at his disposal ; 
yet I did not entertain a hope that I had ex- 
perienced the new birth. After the public 
exercises were passed, one of the brethren 
asked me whether I had a hope in Christ? 
I said no. Another asked me whether I 
loved the J^ord Jesus Christ? I said no. 
But instantly I felt a check that I ought not 
to have said no ; for I knew these things ap- 
peared different to me, and that I had de- 
light in them. On my way home, ponder- 
ing on these things, when my good sister 
Mary asked me to relate some of the exer- 
cises of my mind ; I frankly told her some 
of the conflicts I had passed through, and 
the views I had experienced in the field 
three days before, &c. While I was re- 
lating these things, I thought I had expe- 
rienced a great change in my views and 
feelings, and began to hope it was a saving 
one. When I arrived home, after dark, I 
was surprised to find my parlour filled with 
people. There was at this time more than 



33 

common attention to religion ; but I sup- 
pose my good step-mother had told some of 
the friends that 1 had prayed in the morn- 
ing, and on this account they desired to see 
me. They made some inquiry respecting 
the meeting. I told them something of 
what I had seen and heard, in which they 
appeared to be much interested. At length 
my good mother came to me, and, whisper- 
ing, asked if I was going to pray that eve- 
ning; if so, they would stay in the room, if 
I was willing. 1 then read a chapter, and 
prayed with as much freedom and delibera- 
tion as I have commonly done since. From 
this happy evening I have cherished a hope, 
through grace, to this day. Now 1 felt my- 
self as in a new world ; the holy Bible 
was a new book, more precious than gold ; 
therein did I meditate day and night, with 
inexpressible delight ; all creation smiled 
around me. O, how my affections were 
drawn out to the people of God. What 
pleasure did I enjoy in the society and con- 
versation of Mr. Peckins and his wife, and 
others who appeared to know the grace of 
God by happy experience. The preach- 
ing of the gospel was like bread to the hun- 
gry. My mind was soon led forth in great 
anxiety for the salvation of my fellow sin- 
ners. I was often affected to tears while 
pleading for them at the throne of grace. 
Several young people were now under con- 
cern for their soul's salvation; and several 



34 

had obtained hope in the gospel. I wai 
encouraged to hope the good work would 
continue and prevail till a great multitude 
should be gathered into the kingdom. Con- 
ference meetings were now attended, in 
which I spoke and prayed with much ten- 
derness. I was much affected with the dis- 
tinguishing goodness of God to me. As I 
went about the fields I used to sing, 

Why was I made to hear his voice, 
And enter while there's room? 
While thousands make a wretched choice, 
And rather starve than come," &.c. 

I was now forward to converse, and in 
various ways, contended for what I thought 
was the doctrine of Christ. I prayed with 
great fervency and exhorted with fluency, 
and thought I prayed in the spirit, and that 
all I prayed for would be granted. When 
I compared myself with some old profes- 
sors who, doubtless, knew a thousand times 
more of the deceitfulness of sin and of the 
devices of Satan than I did, but did not 
manifest that glowing zeal I was so animat- 
ed with, I had but a mean opinion of them ; 
and rather than to fall away into that inac- 
tive stupid state I viewed them to be in, I 
should choose to die as I then was ; and to 
help on the delusion, some professing Chris- 
tians spoke injudiciously in high terms of 
ray engagedness. Thus I went on, till I 
was quite elated with what has been called 
spiritual pride. In great mercy I was 



35 

soon brought to see my great error/^The 
first that I perceived of this wretched state 
of mind was in prayer. Like the pious In- 
dian, " I had lost my humble." I could use 
the language of prayer, but was in a great 
measure destitute of devotional feeling, 
which I thought I had enjoyed. Now I 
was led to review my past exercises, and 
found so much ignorance, mistake, error 
and pride, that I could discover but little, 
if any thing, that could be approved in the 
sight of God. Indeed I had, for a time, 
serious doubts whether I had not deceived 
myself with a false hope. I mourned be- 
fore the Lord as one that walked in dark- 
ness. I saw in some measure my error, 
and thought if the Lord would in mercy 
once more bless me with the light of his 
countenance, I would be more humble and 
watchful. But I saw myself so vile that 
I feared I must walk in darkness the rest 
of my days. I had never before so clear- 
ly seen my "heart so deceitful above all 
things, and so desperately wicked." I now 
searched the Scriptures w4th particular 
reference to my present case. That pas- 
sage in Job, xlii. 5, 6, "I have heard of 
thee by the hearing of the ear ; but now 
mine eye seeth thee ; wherefore I abhor 
myself, and repent in dust and ashes," gave 
me some relief. Again, Isaiah vi. 5, " Then 
said I, w^o is me, for I am undone, because 
I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell 



36 

among a people of unclean lips ; for mine 
eyes have seen the King, the Lord of 
Hosts." This also gave me some comfort. 
But the 7th of Romans cleared up the sub- 
ject to my mind. Now I had more clear 
views of the holiness and purity of God, 
his law, &c. I had also a greater and more 
clear sense of the infinite evil of sin, and 
of the depth of iniquity and deceitful work- 
ings of my own heart. Since that time I 
have considered those views and feelings 
among the evidences of a gracious state ; 
and that we have no more true religion 
than we have of genuine humility. "The 
more thy glory strikes mine eye, the hum- 
bler I shall lie ;" or, as the ancient Puri- 
tans used to say, ^'the saint has high and 
exalted thoughts of Christ, and low and 
abasing thoughts of himself." 

The late experince I had had of my own 
weakness led me to a greater sense of my 
dependence on divine teaching. I found it 
necessary to take heed to the divine word; 
to watch and pray, lest there be in me a 
wicked heart, departing from the Lord. I 
now hi2:hlv esteemed the societv and coun- 
sel of older and more experienced Chris- 
tians. The duty of connecting myself with 
some church now occupied my thoughts. 
Baptism was talked of by the converts. I 
was in doubt. I conversed with my father, 
and told him I could find no proof for infant 
baptism in the Bible. He thought he could, 



o 



7 



if he could remember ; but he said he had 
a poor memory. I searched the Scriptures 
for myself as impartially as I could ; exam- 
ined the accounts of household baptisms, 
and other Scriptures named in support of 
the practice, and found no evidence for it. 
I read the New Testament through with 
special reference to this subject, and found 
no precept or example, or even any refer- 
ence to any such thing ; but I found satis- 
factory evidence in precept and example 
for professing believers being buried with 
Christ in baptism. Therefore I fully re- 
nounced infant sprinkling as nothing more 
than a human invention, and something 
worse than nothing, as it is worse to speak 
falsely, than to say nothing. -/- 

In September, the beloved Baldwin 
came to Claremont, and preached in the 
evening. After sermon, three persons of- 
fered themselves as candidates for baptism. 
The last was a very understanding, respect- 
able lady, between forty and fifty years of 
age, by the name of Rich. She told a clear 
gospel experience. When she closed and 
took her seat, her husband stepped between 
her and Mr. Baldwin, and said " this is my 
wife ; I forbid your baptizing her." Mr. 
Baldwin replied in a very calm manner, 
saying, " I suppose, sir, you are willing to 
give your reasons why you forbid her bap- 
tism. Do you think your wife is a Chris- 
tian ?" Mr. Rich replied in a hasty man- 
4 



38 

ner, *' yes, she is a Christian, and has been 
baptized by as good a minister as you are, 
and she woidd be no better for your baptiz- 
ing her." BIr. Baldwin inquired whether 
she was a member of a Congregational 
ehurch ; she said she was. By Mr, Bald- 
win's advice she concluded to delay her 
baptism till she could inform the church and 
ask a letter of dismission. Thus the matter 
rested for the present. But Mr. Rich, as 
afterward related, had a restless night. As 
he returned from meeting, reflecting on his 
uncivil and unchristian conduct toward Mr. 
Baldwin and his own wife, he was over- 
whelmed with shame and remorse. He 
was half convinced that the sentiment he 
had opposed avas correct, and that he was 
fighting against God, and could not answer 
for his conduct before his final Judge. A 
sermon was delivered at Capt. Cook's tav- 
ern, next morning, before baptism, from 
Solomon's Song, i. 8. Mr. Rich's mind was 
powerfully impressed by the recollection of 
the follov^ing words of holy w^it ; *' This is 
the way, w^alk ye in it." About two months 
after this, Mr. Baldwin visited us again, and 
baptized Mr. Rich and his wife, a young 
lady named Lucy Marks, and myself. Af- 
ter sermon, a large concourse assembled at 
the river side, and the ordinance was ad- 
ministered in a Tery solemn and impressive 
manner. Mr. Rich, and many others, wept 
the whole time during the services. 



39 

I now went on my way rejoicins^; found 
wisdom's ways to be ways of pleasantness, 
and all her paths, paths of peace. Mr. 
Baldwin now resided in Canaan, N. H. and 
was at this time on his way to the Warren 
Association, where he reported, as I was 
told some years after, that he had baptized 
a young man in Claremont, that he expect- 
ed would be a preacher of the gospel. But 
at this time, I had no thought that I should 
ever attempt to preach. Being encouraged 
by my good friend, Mr. Peckins, I fre- 
quentl}^ prayed after sermon, and some- 
times delivered an address to the people at 
the close of the meeting, exhorting my fel- 
low youth with much tenderness to remem- 
ber their Creator in the days of their youth, 
&c. This excited much interest in the 
minds of the people ; some in favour and 
some against my practice in thus exhorting 
the people. In the course of a few weeks 
a number of young people found peace in 
believing. Deacon Jacob Rice, his wife, 
and several other respectable people, left 
the Congregational church and were bap- 
tized by Mr. Baldwin, and by Mr. Jedediah 
Hibberd, of Lebanon, N. H. New in- 
stances of conviction appeared from week 
to week. The increasing congregation, 
with great attention, listened to the preach- 
ed word. The prospect was very encour- 
aging that the good work would continue 
and abound. 



40 

Thus I proceeded till I came to the 
knowledge of a report that was current 
among the people, that I was about to com- 
mence in the work of the gospel ministry. 
This tried my feelings, and for a while pre- 
vented my speaking in public, lest thereby 
the report should be confirmed in the pub- 
lic mind ; for as yet 1 had no thought of 
any such thing. 

But I met with a great disappointment 
in my worldly plans, which for awhile 
caused me some trouble. I was sensible 
that my father was dissatisfied with my be- 
coming a Baptist, as I thereby had re- 
nounced all he had done for my salvation 
in dedicating me to God by sprinkling, at 
about ten or eleven years of age. He at- 
tended my baptism, but told some one that 
he had rather have followed me to my 
grave. But, as he had said very little to 
me on the subject, and as he always ap- 
peared pleasant and satisfied with my man- 
agement of the farm; and was considered, 
by all that knew him, to be a man of strict 
integrity, I had not the least thought that 
he would fall from the contract he had 
made with me, to give me a deed of half his 
farm, &c. But when I told him that I had 
prepared materials for building a house, 
had engaged a carpenter, and wished the 
writings might be completed as had been 
agreed on, his countenance fell. He hesi- 
tated awhile, and then said, " he thought 



41 

there were buildings enough on this little 
farm." I understood his determination, 
and said no more. I soon sold my lumber, 
&c. and moved out of his house. Some 
time after, I asked him for the use of his 
oxen a little while. He said his oxen had 
a great deal to do. I left him much griev- 
ed that the conduct of one of the kindest 
of parents had so changed towards me. 
We divided the produce of the farm with- 
out the least difficulty. I was careful not 
to ask him for any favour. 

For some weeks my mind was depressed 
on account of the disappointment. But I 
was enabled by prayer to look to the Lord 
for support and direction. That word. 
Psalm xxxvii. 5, was some comfort to me 
then, and has been many times since ; 
^' Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust 
thou also in him ; and he shall bring it to 
pass." And also those precious words of 
our Lord, Matthew, xix. 29, '* And every 
one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, 
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or 
children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall 
receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit 
everlasting life." 

It was not long after this disappointment 
before I began to feel impressed with the 
thought of entering upon the work of the 
ministry. But as I felt myself destitute of 
the necessary qualifications for so great a 
4* 



42 

work, I endeavoured to dismiss the subject 
for the present. 

The good work of the Lord continued to 
prosper. Mr. Peckins was ordained in 
Claremont about January, 1786. He bap- 
tized my beloved wife in March, and others 
soon after. An ecclesiastical council was 
convened about July this year, when those 
of us who had been baptized on the profes- 
sion of our faith, united together in solemn 
covenant, and received the fellowship of 
the council as a regular church of Christ. 
Our number was about seventeen. For a 
season we walked in the order of the gos- 
pel as a little band of brethren, bound to- 
gether by the cords of love. But about 
February, 1787, I removed my residence 
to Woodstock, Vt. and joined a Baptist 
church in that town. Mr. Joel Butler was 
their Minister. Mr. Peckins soon left 
Claremont, and settled in Rockingham. 
After a few years he left that people, and 
settled in Chelmsford, Mass. where he is 
still living, is about seventy-eight years of 
age, and has not preached for several years. 
Mr. John Parkhurst is now the beloved 
pastor of the church in Chelmsford. Other 
members of the little church in Claremont, 
removed into the state of New York, and 
others were removed by death, so that they 
were unable to maintain public worship, 
and the cause languished for many years, 
till about eight years since, when the Lord 



43 

revived his work of grace in that town. 
A Baptist church was constituted about the 
year 1824. Since then, they have become 
large and respectable. They have a splen- 
did meeting-house, and a full congregation 
in the centre of the town. Mr. Leonard 
Tracy is their beloved pastor, is much re- 
spected, and his labours greatly blessed. 



CHAPTER IIL 

When I had been received a member of 
tbe church in Woodstock, I found myself 
connected with a very respectable brother- 
hood, consisting of a goodly number of 
well informed, gifted brethren, living in 
Christian union. The minister was absent 
the greatest part of the time, and after a 
few months left this people and settled in 
Templeton. But the church kept up pub- 
lic worship, and a considerable assembly 
attended. Their order of exercises were, 
1st, singing; 2d, prayer; 3d, singing; 4th, 
reading the Scriptures ; 5th, remarks on 
what was read, or exhortation and prayer, 
as the brethren felt freedom. Many were 
edified and comforted in these meetings. 
Here I enjoyed great freedom in exhorta- 
tion and prayer. Being invited, I took up 
a large portion of the time. And yet I did 
not feel satisfied. My mind was now so 
completely taken up on the subject of 
preaching that I could think of little else. 
One text after another would seem to open 
to my understanding, so that I thought I 
could preach from them. The Scriptures 
were very precious ; I read them with 



45 

great delight, and meditated therein day 
and night. I slept but little, and when I 
did sleep I sometimes talked in my sleep, 
and preached so loud as to wake my wife 
an(J others in the house, when my wife 
would awake me. 

I frequently dreamed of preaching. 
One instance 1 will here notice, although I 
never placed much dependence on it, and 
seldom ever mentioned it. 

I dreamed I went to a certain private 
house where I expected to hear a sermon. 
When I arrived, the exercises were not 
begun, and I saw no preacher. I thought 
I asked a young man that stood by the door 
whether the preacher had come. He said, 
yes, you are the preacher ; the people have 
met expecting to hear you preach. Then, 
as I thought, I stepped into the room and 
looked round upon the people, who ap- 
peared to be in a remarkable smiling mood. 
The congregation seemed to consist of old 
gray headed people and young people. I 
thought I could discover a contemptuous 
smile on every face, as though they held 
the preacher in great contempt. In my 
dream I thought I stepped to a table, took 
up the Bible, and turned to the following 
text and read it, Isa. iii. 9, '' The show of 
their countenance doth witness against 
them ; they declare their sin as Sodom, 
they hide it not. Wo unto their soul ! 
For they have rewarded evil unto them* 



46 

gelves." I proceeded in my dream to illus- 
trate and improve my text. 1st. Men's 
countenances witness against them when 
their general deportment, or conduct, was 
contrary to the word of God. As the 
countenance distinguishes the person, so 
the conduct the character. If they make 
a mock at sin, or trifle with sacred things, 
their conduct witnesseth ao:ainst them. 
2d. The sin of such transgressors is of a 
heinous nature, like the sin of Sodom. The 
wo of the Almighty is upon them. Such 
bold transgressors injure themselves more 
than they injure any other being. They 
have rewarded evil to themselves. And 
while I thus addressed tliem in my dream, 
I thought the people became very solemn ; 
many were affected to tears. I closed my 
discourse, walked away a few rods and 
awoke ; and, behold, it was a dream. 

As I reflected on it, I recollected no 
other performance in the meeting but 
preaching, and had recognized none with 
whom I was acquainted. But what seem- 
ed the most extraordinary was in reference 
to the text. I might have been able to 
recollect that there were some such words 
in the Bible, but could not have repeated 
them, or told where they were, only I had 
dreamed, &c. Lest I should forget, I arose, 
struck a light, and found the text, Isa. iii. 9, 
'as I had dreamed. This, however, I relate 
only as a dream ; and although it had some 



47 

effect on my mind at the time, yet I was far 
from being decided as to what was my duty 
in this case. At times I retired to the for- 
est and walked among the trees, pondering 
on the subject ; and, before I was aware, 
would find myself preaching to the trees. 
Sometimes I concluded I would engage in 
the wd* rk. Then again a sense of the great- 
ness of the work, the responsibility attach- 
ed to the sacred office of a gospel minister, 
and my unworthiness, want of talents, 
learning and experience, would so over- 
whelm me that I would think I should nev- 
er attempt to preach, and would then try 
to put the subject out of my mind. But 
very soon, some text would engage my 
thoughts, and I would have a sermon all ar- 
ranged. Thus I was like a man trying to 
get to sleep ; the more he tries, the more 
wakeful he is. The painful suspense in my 
mind became more distressing. I prayed 
earnestly that, if it was my duty to go for- 
ward in the work, the Lord would make it 
plain ; or if it was not my duty, that he 
would remove the subject from my mind. 
At length the question was in some meas- 
ure settled, and I commenced the great 
work in a way I had not thought of 

That text in Job, xxv. 4, " How then can 
man be justified with God?" had for sev- 
eral days and nights laid with great weight 
on my mind. I felt a desire for an oppor- 
tunity to state the question and attempt to 



48 

give a scriptural answer. As yet, I had not 
revealed my mind on this subject to any 
person. My dear wife had for some time 
suffered with anxiety for fear that I should 
take up preaching ; but now, having seen 
my perplexity, as she supposed, on this 
subject, she told me she was willing I 
should preach if I thought it to be my 
duty. On Sabbath morning I put a small 
Bible in my pocket and went into meeting, 
intending, if opportunity presented, to read 
the chapter and mai?:e my remarks on the 
question, &c. One of the deacons, as usual, 
commenced the meeting by singing, prayer 
and reading the Scriptures ; but instead of 
addressing the people himself, as he had 
done before, he called on me to speak. I 
gladly embraced the opportunity. I did 
not take the Bible out of my pocket, for 
fear it should be called preaching. I re- 
peated the text and stated the question, 
with its difficulties ; — the holiness of God ; 
his infinite justice ; the righteousness of his 
holy law ; the sinfulness of man, &c. In 
answer to the question mentioned, the com- 
plete satisfaction of the atonement accom- 
plished by the death of Christ ; the cov- 
enant of redemption ; the work of the holy 
Spirit, in making application of the Sav- 
iour's merits, &c., I spoke with freedom 
and much feeling thirty or forty minutes, 
and left speaking with many thoughts un- 
expressed. 



49 

At noon the deacons came and requested 
me to take the lead of the meeting, anci 
speak to the people as I felt freedom. I 
chose a text, and through the exercises I 
enjoyed freedom of thought and speech. 
I had less feeling than I had in the morn- 
ing; but was deliberate, and perhaps more 
edifying to the people. The deacon de- 
sired the church to tarry after the congre- 
gation retired. And, without consulting 
or examining me on the subject, the church 
proceeded and voted, unanimously, to give 
me a letter of license as a candidate for the 
gospel ministry. This was done in April, 
1787. Now I felt at liberty to go forth, 
and, in my feeble measure, proclaim the 
glorious truths of the gospel of Christ to 
my dying fellow men. 

A number of young people were now 
under concern for their salvation. Mr. 
John Peckins came and preached a powerful 
sermon ; after w^hich, while I was exhort- 
ing the people, there was much weeping 
and sobbing through the assembly, which 
increased till at length many broke out into 
a loud cry, which continued for an hour or 
more. We had somethino; similar at a meet- 
ing the next day, but we had to lament 
over the most of those who made the great- 
est outcry ; for they soon returned to their 
former courses. But others brought forth 
fruit. One young lad, by the name of Ora 
Butler, son of Elder Joel Butler, who ap- 
5 



50 

peared to be awakened at that time, has 
since become a Baptist minister in the state 
of New York. 

I continued to preach in Woodstock, and 
in towns adjacent, till I received an invita- 
tion from the Baptist church in Windsor, 
Vt. I removed my family to this town in 
November, 1787, and became the stated 
preacher to this little church of eleven 
members, containing only five males. We 
held our meetings in a private house, two 
miles West of the village, in the East parish. 
At this time there was no settled minister 
in this parish. Our place was soon filled 
to overflowing. During the winter there 
was an increasing attention among the 
young people. Toward spring some were 
l3rought into gospel liberty, and could rec- 
ommend the Saviour to others. I felt my 
heart very much drawn out in prayer for 
the dear youth. And I was often, melted 
into tenderness while urging upon them 
the love of our dying Saviour. Nor was I 
satiiSfied with praying for them in public, 
but I aoonized in secret. There was a de- 
lightful water-fall in a pleasant grove, at a 
little distance fi'om my dwelling, where I 
spent many precious seasons in prostrating 
myself before the Lord, mingling my fee- 
ble voice with the sound of many waters, 
in humble supplication for the blessing of 
God to descend upon the souls of the peo- 
ple to whom I preached the word. But sin 



51 

was mixed with all I did. I often thought 
that it was presumption to look for a divine 
blessing to attend the labours of one so 
weak and unworthy as I was ; and yet, if 
any were brought to rejoice in hope under 
my preaching, this wretched heart would be 
seeking self-praise. But the Lord wrought 
wonders ; and by the month of May, a con- 
siderable number were made to rejoice in 
hope, and were ready to offer themselves 
as candidates for baptism. 

Now the church thought of calling me 
to ordination. I trembled to think of it. 
I felt need of more knowledge and expe- 
rience, before I should be set apart by the 
laying on of hands. I thought it doubtful 
w hether a council would think it expedient 
to ordain one every way so deficient But 
the church plead necessity ; ministers of 
the denomination were scarce ; it was diffi- 
cult to obtain an administrator, &c. I sub- 
mitted the subject to the judgment of the 
church and council. By the request of the 
Baptist church of Christ, in Windsor, a 
council met on the 1 8th day of June, 1788. 
After examination, they voted to proceed 
to ordain me as pastor over that church. 
The following ministers took part in the 
public services, viz. Elder Joseph Cornell 
offered the introductory prayer ; Elder 
William Grow, preached the sermon, from 
Matt, xxviii. 19 & 20. ; Elder Ebenezer 
Bailey, offered the ordaining prayer, while 



52 

ministering brethren present, laid on their 
hands ; Elder Joseph Cornell, gave the 
charge, and Elder Joseph Call, gave the 
hand of fellowship. Elder William Grow, 
was moderator ; and Elder Joseph Call, 
clerk. Elder Henrv Green, of Wallino-- 
ford, and Elder Stephen Royce, of Lan- 
dafF, also several brethren, as messengers, 
attended the council. This ordination took 
place in the Congregational meeting-house. 
The assembly was large. The public ser- 
vices were performed with great solemnity 
and propriety. 

The next Sabbath I baptized several of 
the young converts, and scon after more ; 
and so continued to do for about four 
months, vv^hen I had baptized about thirty. 
The greater part of those who joined the 
meeting and the church after the first year. 
cam e fro m t h e W e st p a r i sh . O u r m e e t i n g s 
increased till no building owned by any 
of the society could contain the people ; 
and our meetings were removed from Sab- 
bath to Sabbath to different parts of the 
town, that each part mio;ht have a share of 
the privilege of attending the meetings. 
For a time our meeting was held in a large 
school-house, in the West parish, contain- 
ing a spacious hall. But the place was 
soon too strait for us. 

Rev. Peletiah Chapen, minister in this 
parish, was dismissed about January, 17S9, 
and was baptized sometime after by Eider 



5S 

Ezra Wilmoth, in Plymouth, N. H. The 
Congregational meeting-house was now un- 
occupied. Some gentlemen in the parish 
advised the Baptist society to apply for the 
use of it. But my friends, expecting there 
would be objections made against it, no ap- 
plication was made by them. At length, 
some gentlemen of the parish, called a par- 
ish meeting of their own accord. Almost 
the whole parish attended. After the 
meeting was opened, a motion was made to 
invite the Baptist church and society to 
meet in their meeting-house, -when they 
had no preacher, and a vote passed. A 
committee chosen at the meeting politely 
waited on me and presented the invitation. 
I gave them thanks, and told them I would 
lay the matter before my people at a con- 
venient time. I was afterward informed 
that there were only three men that oppos- 
ed the vote, and they were violent. They 
were Mr. W. R., Mr. S. T., and Mr. J. N, 
Mr. W. R. holding a large hickory staff in 
his hand, said thus, "Whenever there is a 
meeting held in this house, I calculate to 
attend. I set near the pulpit, and always 
have this staff with me ; and I presume 
that P. will not get by me into the pulpit.'* 
Mr. S. T. said he had rather see h — fire in 
the pulpit than to see P. there. Mr. J. N, 
said he w^ished to G — the meeting-house 
was in flames. 

6* 



54 

Now the reader will notice what follow* 
ed. In a few days after this, 1 was request- 
ed to preach at the funeral of a very re- 
spectable old lady. The man with the 
large staff was there to hear me for the first 
time. He placed himself directly before 
me, and appeared as though he expected 
to look me out of countenance, and I did 
not know but he would ; for I felt myself 
like a stripling before him. But I had not 
proceeded far in my discourse, before he 
began to look down, and then looked up 
with water in his eyes; at length, he bowed 
down and wept during the remainder of 
the sermon, like a child that had been 
severely chastised. He soon proposed to 
the church of which he was an officer, to 
concur v/ith the vote of the parish, which 
was promptly done ; he gave me a copy of 
their vote, invited me to his house, became 
a constant hearer, friend and benefactor, a8 
long as I lived in the town. About one 
week after the parish meeting, Mr. S. T. 
had a little daughter so badly scalded, that 
it died in a few hours. I was called to at- 
tend the funeral. The parents were much 
affected, but said very little till a few 
months after, when their only son, five 
years old, playing about the mill-pond, fell 
in and was drowned. I attended the fune- 
ral of the child, by request of the parents. 
Now they were in great trouble, not on ac- 
count of the death of their children only. 



55 

but for their own souls, lest they should die 
in their sins and be lost for ever. They 
both obtained hope, tlirough grace ; and a 
few w^eeks after the death of their little 
son, I baptized them near the spot where 
he was drowned. Mr. J. N. came to me 
about two weeks after the parish meeting 
and informed me that his wife, having heard 
me preach some time before, was in great 
trouble of mind, and had a desire to con- 
verse with me. He requested me to preach 
at his house and spend the night with him, 
&c. I complied with his request. His 
wife soon rejoiced in hope, and was baptiz- 
ed ; he became very friendly, and with his 
family attended our meeting ever after. 
Thus the Braker came up before us and 
opened an effectual door that no man could 
shut. The difficulties being all removed, 
we peaceably took possession of the meet- 
ing-house, and enjoyed it uninterruptedly 
as long as I stayed in the town. Almost 
every family in the parish, and many in 
the East parish, attended our meetings, and 
members were added to the church from 
Hartland, Wethersfield and Reading, ad- 
joining towns. 

In addition to my labours in this town, I 
travelled and preached among the destitute 
in different parts of this State, and New 
Hampshire. 

Soon after I was ordained, I journeyed 
to Coos, by the way of White River. I 



56 

preached and baptized in Royaiton and 
Bethel ; went to Tunbridge and preach- 
ed in Mr. Benedict's barn, in the morn- 
ing, and was surprised to see so many 
people collect, so early in the day, in such 
a wilderness part of the country. They 
heard as for eternity. One young man 
and his wife came five miles from Ran- 
dolph on foot. They were very urgent 
that I should go home with them, and 
preach in the afternoon at their house. 
They entreated me with tears till I consent- 
ed. Soon after I set out for their dwelling 
I came to a deep stream, drove my horse 
through and walked over on a log. Hav- 
ing rode several miles in the woods, by 
marked trees, I came into a path among 
the new settlers, and to the young man's 
house. As we were passing he sent notice 
of my preaching in every direction. The 
men came from their labour, as the message 
found them, while rolling burnt logs, &c. 
about as black as Africans. They were all 
attention. Before I closed my discourse, 
the tears had made w^hite paths down their 
cheeks. After sermon, a gentleman, a lit- 
tle better clad than the rest, invited me to 
go home with him, but it was two miles 
out of my way ; and being weary, I thank- 
ed him and declined. The young man 
said he should be glad to have me tarry 
with him if he had entertainment for me ; 
but he had nothing for me to eat, and no 



57 

where for me to lodge. I asked him if he 
had bread and milk? Yes, said he, we have 
bread and milk, and that is all we have. I 
told him I wanted nothing: better, and could 
lodge myself. My young friends were 
new settlers in the region ; had built a log- 
cabin, but it was not nnislied. About half 
the floor was covered with split logs, flat 
side up ; the rest was bare ground ; the roof 
was covered with bark, and a space left 
open for a chimney ; a space for a door, but 
none hung. After evening worship, I ate 
my bread and milk with good relish, laid 
my saddle for a pillow, wrapped my great 
coat about me and laid mvself down on the 
split logs. Being weary, I slept soundly. 
I rose early, felt refreshed, and was on my' 
horse before sunrise. The kind young man 
piloted me into the great road leading to 
Coos. He was much affected when we 
parted ; and I expected never to see him 
again in this life. But about three months 
alter, I visited the town again, by special 
request, and baptized the young man, his 
wife, and two of his neighbours. I supj)0se 
this was the first time this holy ordinance 
was administered in Randolph. 

I pursued my journey, arrived in Ver- 
shire, and preached in the evening. Next 
day I rode to Corinth, and preached. The 
next dav I rode to Bradford in the fore- 
noon, and was informed by my friend, i>u\ 
Picket, that he had received the notice I 



58 

had sent him, and had appointed a meeting 
in his barn, at 2 o'clock, P. M. and I might 
expect a large assembly. This was within 
a mile or two of my former residence, in 
Piermont. The thought of preaching to 
my former acquaintance, brought a trial 
upon my mind. I retired, and tried to 
pour out my soul for divine assistance. 
The people assembled before the time. 
While I was waiting for the arrival of the 
time appointed, and looking on the great 
assembly, every eye seemed to be fixed 
upon me, as though it was a strange thing 
that I should appear among them in the 
character of a preacher. Nor was it less 
strange to myself While I could recog- 
nize almost every countenance, and think 
how much of my precious time I had spent 
with them in sin and vanity, I said to my- 
self, how can I preach to this people? All 
was still as night, till one broke silence by 
asking me how long it was since I had ex- 
perienced religion. I then arose and pre- 
faced my public exercises with a brief ac- 
count of my experience. The people ap- 
peared very attentive. I took for my text, 
these words, *' Let us have grace whereby 
we may serve God acceptably." I en- 
deavoured, by scriptural arguments, to show 
the necessity of having grace to serve God 
acceptably. I spoke with freedom and 
much affection, and the power of the Lord 
attended the word ; many souls in that as- 



59 

sembly, I have no doubt, were convinced 
of their sinful and lost state. 

The next day I preached in Mr. Solo- 
man Bailey's barn, in Piermont. His mind 
was deeply impressed with what he heard 
the day before. Here a large company of 
my former acquaintance assembled. I felt 
great solicitude for their salvation. I 
preached from Malachi iii. 9, " Ye are 
cursed with a curse ; for ye have robbed 
me, even this whole nation." I have rea- 
son to believe that many received lasting 
impressions at this meeting. I conversed 
with many personally, who were affected 
to tears, particularly Mr. D. H. with whom 
I had spent many evenings in civil recre- 
ation, while he was a member of a church. 
I asked him what his motives were in join- 
ing the church. He said he thought he 
had [)etter be a hypocrite than nothing. 
I reminded him of the awful woes our 
Saviour denounced upon hypocrites. He 
appeared tenderly impressed ; and at part- 
ing, he requested an interest in my prayers. 
I felt much for him. He afterwards wrote 
me a long and interesting letter; giving me 
a very satisfactory account of his Christian 
experience, and joyful hope. 

On this journey I preached in Haverhill, 
Bath and Landaff. On my return I preach- 
ed in Lyme. Here I had a distant relation, 
by the name of Broghton, whom I had not 
seen. When I had inquired him out, he 



60 

entertained me kindly. I preached to a 
small assembly in his house. Thirty-five 
years after, I became acquainted with the 
excellent Nathaniel Kendrick, D. D. Prin- 
cipal of the Hamilton Institution, N. Y. 
who told me that he heard me preach at 
the meeting in Lyme, and that there he 
received some of his earliest impressions 
on the great subject of religion, at twelve 
years of age. I then returned to my fami- 
ly and flock, and found them all well. 

The prosperity of our Denomination in 
this State, about this time, is eloquently 
and justly stated in Rev. David Benedict's 
Flistory, vol. i. p. 333, as follows. ''Be- 
tween the years 1780 and 1790, thirty-two 
churches were planted in Vermont, so that, 
together with the two wdiich had been 
planted before, there were at the last men- 
tioned date, thirty-four churches in this 
State, in which were twenty -eight ordain- 
ed, and fifteen licensed preachers, and their 
whole number of communicants was about 
sixteen hundred. Elisha Ransom, Elisha 
Rich, Joseph Cornell, Thomas Skeels, 
Hezekiah Eastman, William Bentley, John 
Hibbard, John Peak, Caleb Blood, Aaron 
Lealand, Isaac Beal, John Drew, Isaac 
Webb, Henry Green, Isaiah Stone, and 
Joseph Call, were among the first Baptist 
ministers, who settled in this State ; and by 
who^e laborious and evangelical exertions, 
the early churches were planted." 



61 

For a time there was no minister in 
Windsor, except myself, and demands for 
my labours were increasing daily. As the 
church and congregation of my particular 
charge had now become comparatively 
large, it was thought they were able to 
give me a comfortable support, so that I 
might devote myself to the ministry of the 
w^ord among them. And after we occupi- 
ed the meeting-house, and the parish gen- 
erally attended my ministry, I did expect 
that something of the kind would be done. 
But at length I was convinced that the 
people intended no such thing. I had 
leave to be absent a part of the time, as 
duty might require ; but this afforded me 
no pecuniary relief; for I received almost 
nothing when I itinerated. I had expend- 
ed nearly all I had accumulated, before I 
commenced preaching. I came to a con- 
clusion that I must commence business as 
a tailor, or my family must suffer. But, to 
take off occasion, I mentioned it first in 
church-meeting, by way of asking counsel, 
whether it was advisable for me, under ex- 
isting circumstances, to set up my business 
as a tailor. Brother B. replied promptly, 
*' no, by no means, but give thyself wholly 
to the ministry ; there was work enough 
without setting up my trade." Brother T. 
replied, that " he wished that I could give 
myself wholly to the work of the ministry; 
but my family must be supported, and if I 
6 



62 

was required to give myself wholly to 
these things, they ought to raise a salary of 
eighty pounds for my support." Brother 
B. replied, "that would spoil me, by mak- 
ing me a hireling," &c. No resolve was 
passed. 

I soon agreed with a carpenter, to build 
me a shop. I had procurred, partly by the 
help of friends, seven acres of land, prin- 
cipally covered with wood ; on which was 
a small house and barn, a garden, and some 
fruit trees, located on a large road near the 
meeting-house. I entered into partnership 
with a steady and trusty young man, who 
was a good workman, and took three female 
apprentices. I agreed to furnish wood for 
the shop, board him and the apprentices, 
work myself part of the time, or when I 
was at leisure ; the profits to be equally 
divided between me and my partner. We 
had work enough and prompt pay ; found 
it profitable, and went on in peace and 
quietness. My people were wonderfully 
pleased to see that I could maintain myself 
and family. But my shop took too much 
of my attention. After about two years, 
my partner set up in business by himself^ 
in Claremont. Now I must give up the 
shop altogether, or attend to it more close- 
ly than ever. 



CHAPTER IV. 

After my ordination I felt, more than 
I had done before, the want of learning 
and theological information. Had I realis- 
ed before I commenced preaching, as I now 
did, how deficient I was, and how difficult 
it would be "to do the work of an evan- 
gelist" Avithout further preparation, I think 
i could not have commenced. But I had 
now vowed to the Lord, and could not go 
back. I wrote with much feeling to my 
good friend and brother, Mr. Baldwin, ex- 
pressing my trials ; and received a kind 
answer. He tried to encourage me to per- 
severe in the good work ; saying, that all 
ministers had trials ; some in one way, and 
some in another. He recommended sev- 
eral books for my help. I obtained Butter- 
worth's Concordance ; Locke on Human 
Understanding and Ontology ; Watts' Log- 
ic and Improvement of the Mind ; Mason 
on Self Knowledge; Blair's Lectures on 
Rhetoric ; Claud on Sermonizing, with 
Robinson's Notes ; some part of Gill and 
Henry's Expositions, &c. &l^ These books 
I obtained, one or two at a time, as I found 
it practicable. 



64 

I read them with avidity, and felt much 
satisfaction in studying them, in connection 
with the word of God. Indeed, I saw 
more of my ignorance than I had realised 
before. But I found I was not alone. The 
w^orld of mankind in general are involved 
in darkness, in respect to things temporal 
and spiritual. But knowledge is attaina- 
ble. Some have attained a good degree of 
it, and I was eager to pursue it. But, my 
public engagements ; my family ; my shop ; 
all pressed into my mind ! How could I 
pursue the desired object ! Sometimes I 
laboured till late in the night to redeem 
time to preach the next day. Then I 
would think I must leave this people and 
go to some place, where I could be sus- 
tained, and devote myself to the sacred 
work, which I loved above every other 
employment. But I was affectionately at- 
tached to the people gathered under my 
labours, and I did not think it was for want 
of affection or ability that they did not sup- 
port me ; but it was the covetous policy of 
the day, that deemed it wicked for the peo- 
ple to give, or the minister to receive any 
thing for preaching. Study and learning 
were esteemed worse than useless. 

These unhappy prejudices were doubt- 
less strengthened by the arbitrary measure 
pursued in some towns, of taxing the Bap- 
tists for the support of ministers of other 
denominations, An attempt was mad^ 



65 

about this time to obtain a law of the 
State, for a general assessment for the sup- 
port of preachers, similar to what had been 
attempted in the State of Virginia ; which 
was boldly advocated in a large number of 
publications in the newspapers, by a reve- 
rend clergyman. But these pieces were 
answered in a very able, candid and forci- 
ble manner, by a reputable Baptist, Dr. 
Fletcher, of Cavendish. His clear refuta- 
tion of the arguments employed by the 
clergyman, and his powerful appeals to the 
public in defence of religious liberty, put 
to silence the clergyman ; and the object of 
a general assessment, for the present, w^as 
given up. Dr. Fletcher was an eminent 
physician, and judge of the county for 
many years. The celebrated lawyer of 
the same name in Boston, is the son of 
the judge. 

In the years 1790 and 1792, there was an 
extensive revival in the Baptist churches, 
in the East part of the State of New 
HamDshire, extending^ more or less into 
about twenty townships ; and only five 
Baptist preachers in all that region. I 
was solicited to visit them. At length a 
preacher came to see me, directly from the 
great field, and urged me to go and see the 
destitute people. 

We had at this time an ordained brother 
in the church, who was esteemed as a good 
man and an able preacher. He had been 
6* 



66 ^ 

out of health, but was now able to preach, 
and generally supplied the pulpit in my 
absence. I commenced my journey to the 
East part of New Hampshire, in June, 
1792, taking w^ith me a certificate of which 
the following is a copy. " The Baptist 
church of Christ in Windsor. A recom- 
mendation, to whom it may concern. This 
may certify, that Elder John Peak, our 
much beloved and faithful pastor, has been 
legally set apart to the work of the ministry 
of the word, and ordinances of the New 
Testament, and is well reported of with us, 
not only by the church, but by the people 
in general, and we do hereby recommend 
him, as such, to all Christian people wher- 
ever he may journey, believing that his gifts 
will make his way for him ; hoping that, 
through divine goodness, he may be instru- 
mental of winning many souls, and of com- 
forting God's people. Done by order of 
the Church, Windsor, Vt. June 1, 1792. 
Attest, Nathaniel Kendall, Scribe, 
1 preached in New Salisbury, Deerfield, 
Lee, New Market, Exeter, Stratham, 
Kingston, Southampton, Newtown, Ames- 
bury, Plastow, Haverhill, Sandtown, Brent- 
w^ood, Sanbornton, &c. I preached before 
the New Hampshire Association, in Deer- 
lield. There were four times as many 
people assembled as could get into the 
meeting-house ; but those within, heard 
with great attention. And wherever I ad- 



67 

dressed the people, I had large assemblies, 
and deeply affected hearers ; and saw a 
great number of young converts, and many 
precious youth in tears, under a painful 
sense of their guilty, perishing state. 

The people overwhelmed me with their 
kindness. I received three formal invita- 
tions in different towns, to become their 
stated preacher. I was from home about 
thirty days ; rode about three hundred 
miles; preached thirty times; arrived in 
health, and found all well. Thanks to our 
Preserver. The cash received for servi- 
ces on this journey, amounted to more in 
value than all I had received in the year 
past. 

I returned home on Saturday. Mr. 
Joshua Smith, a licensed preacher, came 
with me from New Hampshire, and spent 
the Sabbath with us. At his request, the 
church met at noon. He, having been 
with me most of the journey, related to 
the church something of the happy state of 
revival in New Hampshire, and the want 
of ministers ; the manner in which my la- 
bours had been received ; and read to them 
the invitations presented me. He told 
them he did not know what I would think 
was duty to do in the case ; but if I should 
ask a dismission from my pastoral charge, 
he hoped they would cheerfully grant my 
request ; for he thought it would be very 
wrong for them to require me to stay with 



68 

them, and confine myself to my shop to 
support my family, when Providence had 
prepared the way for me to be supported, 
so that I might devote myself wholly to the 
sacred work. The feelings of the church 
were such that they wept to excess. How- 
ever, little more was said for a while. I 
visited the region in New Hampshire again, 
and made arrangements to remove my fam- 
ily to Deerfield, in January, 1793, and then 
returned and asked my dismission. 

Now the trial came on, and was deeply 
felt by the church and myself. Some said 
one thing and some another. But one 
thing was more talked of than any thing 
else. Several individuals had generously 
subscribed towards paying for my lot and 
buildings. It was said that when the sub- 
scriptions were given, it was expected that 
I should stay with them during life. Al- 
though no such stipulation was ever men- 
tioned, yet they thought it to be wrong in 
me to hold the property and leave them. 
I had concluded what to do in this case, 
and told them I could satisfy them on 
that head, when they were ready to come 
to a decision on the question. But no 
decision was obtained till Elder Shephard, 
of Brentwood, and Elder Ransom met with 
the church to give advice on the subject. 
These aged ministers plead hard on oppo- 
site sides.' Elder Shephard, who had come 
one hundred miles to attend this meeting, 






69 

plead that my labours were needed in the 
county of Rockingham. Elder Ransom 
plead that I had a wide field of useful la- 
bour in Windsor and vicinity. He did not 
see how I could be spared from that region, 
&c. After this, the church met to decide 
the question. To satisfy all parties, I pre- 
sented the deed of my place as a parson- 
age, to be held in trust for the church, on 
condition that the church pay me tAventy 
pounds, the cost of the shop I had built on 
it. This the church accepted by vote, and 
appointed a committee to take the deed 
and have one prepared for me to sign. All 
which was agreed to ; and they voted to 
grant my request of dismission from my 
pastoral office. But at a subsequent meet- 
ing. Brother Joseph Parmenter made a mo- 
tion to reconsider the vote to accept a deed 
of my place. He plead with tears. He 
thought it cruel, after I had laboured five 
years for their good, and had received very 
little, except what had been given toward 
my place, to take that from me he thought 
very wrong. Since he had reconsidered 
the subject he had not been able to take 
usual repose. He spake with so much 
good feeling and propriety, it took effect. 
The vote was so amended as to require me 
to pay back the subscriptions to all who 
might require it. To this I agreed, and 
took back my deed ; sold my place to Mr. 
Ezekiel Pearsons, for ninety pounds. By 



70 

my order he paid over to almost every sub- 
scriber the full amount of their subscrip- 
tions. Here we may see what a poor crea- 
ture man is, Avhen left to himself ! Al- 
though these things transpired near forty 
years since, there may be some who can 
testify to the truth of these facts who are 
still living in Windsor. But I always felt 
a tender solicitude for this people, and have 
enjoyed as much of the sweetness of Chris- 
tian fellowship with them as, perhaps, with 
any other people. The little church of 
eleven members had now increased to sev- 
enty-five, comprising some of the most 
wealthy people in the parish ; and they 
might have had a large and able society to 
aid them in supporting a minister, but they 
thought it wrong to enter into any covenant 
with the people of the land for the support 
of public worship. - 

At the time of my ordination, the church 
voted to pay me fifty dollars per year, and 
this to be assessed on the members of the 
church, according to ability. About three 
years after, their committee met for settle- 
ment with me, and found they were fifty 
dollars in arrears. This they requested me 
to relinquish, and they w^ould be punctual in 
future. I consented ; but never had a set- 
tlement with them after. I conclude they 
owed me fifty dollars when I left them, 
which they never paid. Mr. Donahough, 
a very respectable Irish gentleman in the 



71 

parish said, " Mr. P. had served the people 
five years for just nothing at all; for all 
he had received of them would not more 
than pay the extra expense he was at in 
consequence of being their minister." I 
suppose this was very near the truth ; for, 
from Saturday to Monday my house was 
frequently thronged with loving friends, 
who came from a distance to attend meet- 
ing. After all, I do not lay the whole fault 
to the people. Perhaps I was as much or 
more to blame than they. Had I clearly 
understood their duty, and my own, and 
faithfully instructed them in this momen- 
tous part of revealed truth, it might have 
been better for them and me. 

I left our good brother, Elder Roswell 
Smith, to preach to them, who continued 
with them some years, and then went to 
the upper Province in Canada, where he 
was living lately, and has been very use- 
ful. He was born about 1754. 

The church have since understood their 
duty better, and have done it cheerfully, I 
trust, and have prospered more since I left 
them than before. They have become two 
bands. In the East parish they have an 
elegant brick meeting-house, with steeple 
and bell, and a large church and congrega- 
tion. Rev. Lealand Howard is their pas- 
tor. They have built a spacious meeting- 
house in the West parish ; but I do not 



72 

know who is their present pastor. May 
the Lord give them prosperity. 

My friends in Deerfield, N. H. sent 
three double sleighs, and removed my fur- 
niture. After paying all demands against 
me, I owned a good span of horses and 
a sleigh, with which I took my wife, her 
sister, and my two children, and left Ver- 
mont. We arrived safe in Deerfield, Jan- 
uary 12, 1793. 

Here was a branch of the Brentwood 
Baptist church, under the pastoral care of 
their much esteemed Elder Samuel Shep- 
hard. They had a decent new meeting- 
house, and an overflowing congregation. I 
agreed to preach to them half the time for 
one year. The precious revival which 
commenced the year before, still continued. 

During my preaching to this people, I 
baptized twenty, or more, who united with 
this branch ; among whom was Mr. Wil- 
liam Bachelder, a native of Boston. He 
had prepared for college, but was disap- 
pointed in his expectation of entering, by 
the death of his father. He had married 
the daughter of Mr. Benjamin Sanborn, of 
this town. Here he lived and taught a 
school, for which he was well qualified. 
He obtained a hope while he attended on 
my ministry. Soon after he was baptized, 
he was licensed as a candidate for the min- 
istry. He was born in the year 1769. But 
more of him hereafter. 



T3 

Besides preaching in this town, I preach- 
ed in most of the adjacent towns, and in 
some at considerable distance. I frequent- 
ly went to preach, baptize and administer 
the Lord's supper in places where they 
had no pastor. 

A happy revival took place in the town of 
Bow, under the preaching of Mr. Joshua 
Smith, a licentiate. I was sent for, to bap- 
tize ; and, although it w^as in the dead of 
winter, the excitement of the people was 
such that a great assembly met ; a large 
company came in sleighs from Concord, in 
a thick snow storm, to see the wonderful 
sight. A space was cut in the ice on the 
mill-pond, and I descended into the liquid 
grave and baptized two, Mr. Rogers and 
his wife, the 2d day of February. On the 
16th of April I baptized sixteen, on the 
11th of August, eleven, and in the month 
of October, four; all in the town of Bow. 
This was the commencement of the church 
in that town, which is large and respect- 
able. 

There was a church in Hopkinton, but 
no pastor. By their request I visited them 
several times. I rode there on Saturday, 
in the month of April, arrived after dark, 
and called at a small house where I was 
unacquainted. There I learned that the 
meeting was appointed in the West part of 
the town, in a barn. I was now at a dis- 
tance from my friends, weary and chilled 
7 



74 

with the cold. I accepted of the kind in- 
vitation of the stranger, to stay the night. 
Next morning I went to the place of meet- 
ing. When I arrived, I found a large 
house and barn ; went into the house, but 
the people felt no interest in the meeting. 
I tied my horse to a post, and there he 
stood till night. A large assembly met in 
the barn. After sermon, Benjamin Dar- 
ling, Esq. his wife, and another lady, relat- 
ed their experience, and were received as 
candidates for baptism and membership ; 
went directly, some distance, to Contoo- 
cook river, and administered the holy ordi- 
nance. On my return I stepped into a 
house and obtained a small dry biscuit ; 
walked to the barn and preached to a sol- 
emn and attentive congregation ; received 
the candidates into the church by the hand 
of fellowship, and administered the holy 
ordinance of the Lord's supper. I had not 
changed my raiment. I had been much 
animated in my labours through the day ; 
but after meeting I felt chilled. As the 
kind stranger's house was the nearest place 
I could go to, I went there for the night. 
The good woman furnished me with a 
change of raiment and dried my clothes. 
I had a good nights rest, and next day rode 
home. I do not know that I received any 

freat injury by this imprudent conduct, 
mprudent I call it, for so it was, if not 
presumptuous. I hardly feel justified in 



75 

mentioning it, but conclude that there is 
not much danger that any prudent minister 
will ever imitate the example. Brother 
Darling was afterwards chosen deacon, and 
proved faithful, but is gone, I trust, to en- 
ter into the joy of his Lord. Deacon 
Young, a good brother in this church in 
Hopkinton, gave me a good brass eight- 
day clock, as compensation for my labours 
among them. 

I now felt myself happily liberated from 
worldly cares ; my friends in Deerfield be- 
ing able, Avilling and ready to grant me 
every indulgence. An effectual door was 
open. I had more calls than I could com- 
ply with. Wherever I went was kindly 
entertained. In many places I saw evident 
tokens of the divine presence in rendering 
the word effectual in awakening the impen- 
itent, and comforting mourners. In Can- 
dia I baptized seven at one time, and four 
at another, and I know not how many more 
at other times, who were added to the 
church in Deerfield. I went to Goffstown, 
preached, and baptized seven, and assisted 
Rev. Samuel Fletcher and others in con- 
stituting a church. I preached in many 
towns in the counties of Rockingham and 
Stratford, and saw much of the good work 
of the Lord. 

In August, Mr. Nichols, of Woburn, 
came to Deerfield and spent a Sabbath 
with us ; and, as an agent for the Baptist 



76 

friends in Woburn, he requested me to 
visit them. I spent a Sabbath and preach- 
ed with them in September. From thence 
I went to Attleborough, and attended the 
Warren Association. Here I became ac- 
quainted with some venerable Baptist min- 
isters, of whom I had only heard before, 
viz. Stillman, Backus, Hynes, Pitman, Fos- 
ter, Williams, Briggs, Moffit, &c. The op- 
portunity was peculiarly precious to me. 
But the introductory sermon delivered by 
my highly esteemed Brother Baldwin, from 
Acts XX. 23. "Take heed therefore to your- 
selves, and to all the flock," &c. was most 
interesting. O ! with what heart-felt sat- 
isfaction and delight did I listen to the ser- 
mon, notwithstanding it made me asham- 
ed of my own work. Being invited, I 
preached in the evening, and most of the 
ministers of the Association were present. 
I went from the Association, in company 
with Mr. Baldwin and others, to Boston, 
which I had not seen before. I was de- 
lighted with the conversation of the pious 
people with whom I became acquainted ; 
preached in Mr. Baldwin's meeting-house, 
and returned to Deerfield. 

While I resided at Deerfield, I preached 
several Sabbaths in Newtown. When I 
was with them I generally appointed the 
Sabbath when I would come again. On 
one of these appointments, my v/ife Vvas so 
unwell on Saturday, that I did not think it 



77 

proper for me to leave home. But en- 
gaged Brother William Bachelder to go in 
my room, who was then a licensed preach- 
er. He consented, on condition that I 
would go in the morning, if I could leave 
home. My wife was so much better in 
the morning, that I concluded to go. I sat 
out early, had twenty-five miles to ride 
on horseback, and arrived just as Brother 
Bachelder was commencing the services. 
He was overjoyed to see me. He had 
preached but a few times. The meeting- 
house was full to overflowing. I preach- 
ed twice, leaving Brother Bachelder to 
preach with them a few days. 1 returned 
to my family that night ; but being detain- 
ed to converse with anxious inquirers, I 
did not set out till near sun-down, so that I 
had most of the distance to ride after dark. 
My meditations were such that I hardly 
realised the distance. It seemed to me a 
strange thing that one so unworthy as I 
was should be permitted to hope i^ the 
mercy of God ; that I was supported in 
performing so much labour ; that so many 
were disposed to give their attention to my 
feeble communications ; and that there was 
so much reason to hope that the word by 
me dispensed, one so inadequate to the 
sacred work, was blessed to precious souls. 
Towards the close of the year, I began 
to think of complying with the urgent re- 
quest of the people at Newtown, to take 



78 

up my residence with them. In Deerfield 
were three licensed Baptist preachers ; 
Brethren Peter Moore, John Prescott, and 
William Bachelder ; all esteemed, but more 
especially Brother Bachelder. His w^ife's 
parents were w^ealthy ; great friendship 
subsisted in the connection ; and I thought, 
if I left the town, he would be likely to 
stay with them ; and I was not pleased with 
the idea of being pastor of a branch of a 
church. 

Newtown is a small town situated in the 
South-east corner of New Hampshire, ten 
miles from Newbury port and six from 
Haverhill, Mass., and twenty-five from 
Portsmouth, N. H. ; is about three miles 
square, and contains about eighty families. 
The inhabitants consist chiefly of industri- 
ous, wealthy farmers. They had a decent 
meeting-house, recently repaired, and near 
it lived an aged Pedobaptist minister, who 
had formerly been their preacher many 
yearii. I believe he was never accused of 
being super-Calvinistic. There were a 
few members of the Pedobaptist church 
living in the place, but most of the people 
were of the Baptist sentiment. They had 
for a long time been destitute of stated 
preaching. Here was a Baptist Church, 
formed as early as 1755. Mr. Backus in- 
forms us "that the Baptist church in New- 
town, N. H. was small in its beginning ; 
was gathered out of a society of separate 



79 

Pedobaptists, in 1755, and was the ojily 
Baptist church in the State, for fifteen 
years ; that Walter Powers, father to the 
late Walter Powers, of Gilmantown, was 
ordained its pastor the same year it was 
constituted ; that it increased for a while 
under his ministry, and then fell into dif- 
ficulties and divisions, which interrupt- 
ed its harmony, and finally terminated in 
its dissolution." Benedict's History, vol. i. 
page 316. 



CHAPTER V. 

There were a number of members be- 
longing to the Baptist churches in Haver- 
hill and Brentwood, who resided in New- 
town and vicinity, and others whom I had 
baptized, who were desirous of uniting in 
constituting a church in Newtown, provid- 
ing I would consent to become their pastor. 
Most of the people of the town united in 
forming a Baptist society for the support of 
preaching ; but the greatest part of the 
society belonged to the towns adjoining, 
viz. Southampton, Kingston, Plastow, N. H. 
and Amesbury, Mass. ; in all about 160 
rateable polls. 

The people in Deerfield were punc- 
tual in fulfilling their engagements, besides 
making me presents, such as I had not been 
accustomed to receive. We parted in 
harmony. 

My friends in Newtown provided me 
with a comfortable house, and I removed 
my family there in January, 1794. I 
agreed to preach to this people and to the 
Baptist people in Woburn, alternately. I 
commonly tarried at each place two weeks 
at a time, as they were nearly thirty miles 



81 

apart. I had the happiness to see some 
fruits of my labours in both societies, but 
by far the greatest in Woburn. Here Avas 
a very kind, loving people. When I first 
came among them there was no regular 
church or society ; but a considerable num- 
ber, belonging both to the church and 
society in West Cambridge, soon form- 
ed a society, and began to make arrange- 
ments for building a meeting-house. Till 
their house was finished the meetings were 
held in the upper story of Capt. Edgeli's 
house, which was unfinished, but was fitted 
up with pulpit and seats, and was filled 
mostly with young people. 

The excellent Mr. Thomas Green had 
been pastor of the church in Cambridge 
for a number of years. About this time he 
left them and went to Danvers, and after- 
ward to North Yarmouth, Me. where he 
died, about 1816, much beloved and la- 
mented. 

While the society were building their 
meeting-house in Woburn, the Holy Spirit 
was shed upon the people, and a happy 
revival commenced. The sudden death of 
a young man, by the name of Benjamin 
Edgell, 21 years of age, was a mean of 
awaking many. On his birth-day, being 
in company with his young friends who 
had met for civil amusement, he fell and 
expired instantly ! He was a young man 
of promise, of fine appearance and much 



82 

belov^ed ; in many respects he left but few 
equals in the town. He was the son of 
Capt. Edgell, owner of the house where we 
held our meetings. Rev. Thomas Bald- 
win preached at his funeral, from Job xxi. 
23, 24 ; " One dieth in his full strength, be- 
ing wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts 
are full of milk, and his bones are moisten- 
ed with marrow." Mrs. Edgell and several 
of her children, soon after the death of their 
beloved Benjamin, experienced a gracious 
change and were baptized. Mrs. Edgell 
lived to a great age, much esteemed for her 
piety and exemplary life. She departed 
this life in 1S29, in a happy state of mind. 
Her son, John Edgell, is an esteemed mem- 
ber of that church. The good work con- 
tinued several months. During the season 
I baptized thirty-five persons, some of them 
lived in South Reading, where Brother 
Baldwin baptized several persons. 

After this precious revival, the church 
was for a time called Cambridge and Wo- 
burn Church, and at length became two 
distinct churches. I continued to preach 
to this people till October, 1795, when I 
agreed to preach statedly in Newtown. 

Mr. Ames, the aged minister, had moved 
out of Newtown, and his farm, near the 
meeting-house, was for sale. Some of my 
friends united and purchased it for my ac- 
commodation, and finally sold it to me for 
nine hundred dollars. It contained forty 



83 

acres of land, with good buildings, orchard, 
&c. From the first of my preaching in 
this town I had a larger congregation than 
I had at Deerfield or Woburn. I now call- 
ed the attention of the brethren to the sub- 
ject of constituting a church, which was ac- 
complished in February, 1796, containing, 
to the best of my recollection, about twen- 
ty-five members. We adopted for our con- 
stitution the articles of the Second Baptist 
Church, in Boston, and had them printed. 
The people of the town became more 
attentive to my preaching, and generally 
attended meeting, with many others from 
the adjoining towns. 

About this time there appeared in the 
church an unusual spirit of prayer for a re- 
vival of religion. I rejoiced to see a few 
anxious persons, and more solemn attention 
to the word in the congregation. I felt 
much tender concern for the souls of my 
people, and devoted my whole attention to 
preaching, prayer-meetings, and visiting 
from house to house, conversing and pray- 
ing with the tender minded, and others. 

We had a meeting at Mr. Plummer's 
house, in Amesbury, on a week-day. I 
preached from Isaiah xxxiii. 22. " For the 
Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law- 
giver, the Lord is our king ; he will save 
us." The time was come for the Spirit to 
be shed down upon the people. A con- 
siderable part of the assembly were so 



84 

deeply impressed with a sense of their sin- 
ful, lost state, that they could not conceal 
their distress. After a few days others 
were found awakened in like manner. 
Some, in a short time, were brought to re- 
joice in hope. Thus the good work con- 
tinued to extend until it appeared in sev- 
eral towns, around us. 

We had frequent church-meetings to 
hear the experience of young converts. I 
often had the pleasure of administering the 
holy ordinance of baptism, and for several 
months we never failed of admitting mem- 
bers into the church at our monthly com- 
munions, so that within about one year the 
church had more than doubled in number. 
I hired the work done on my farm, so that 
I devoted my time to my sacred calling ; 
and had great encouragement thus to do ; 
for my people were able and willing to 
give me a good support, and would some- 
times turn out, en masse, and mow down 
my grass or hoe a field of corn, gratis. 
And above all, the Lord granted success to 
my poor labours. When I contrasted my 
present situation with what it was in Wind- 
sor, I felt myself under great obligations to 
humble gratitude and praise to the Giver 
of every good and perfect gift, for all his 
goodness to me and my family. But this 
heart ! this wretched heart ! how insensi- 
ble ! how unfeeling under all the conde- 
scending kindness and mercy of our heav- 



85 

enly Benefactor. Taking a retrospective 
view of those happy days during the refor- 
mation, it appears to me that I enjoyed 
more freedom in preaching the gospel, and 
more heavenly consolation in my mind, 
than I had for some years before, for so long 
a time together. 

After a few months, conversions and ad- 
ditions to the church were less frequent ; 
but union and peace continued in the 
church and society. The church joined 
the 'New Hampshire Baptist Association 
this year, June, 1796. Among those who 
were baptized and added to the church 
about this time, were two brethren who af- 
terward became preachers, Mr. John Mer- 
rill, and Mr. David Tuxbury, both of 
Amesbury. Mr. Merrill, commonly call- 
ed Capt. Merrill, was forty-five years of 
age or more when he was baptized ; was a 
man of business, and possessed considera- 
ble property. It was a matter of astonish- 
ment to his neighbours that he should join 
the Baptists, and still more that he became 
a preacher. After trial of his gifts, the 
church thought proper to give him license. 
He was a man of good sense, and of a kind 
and amiable disposition, although he was 
possessed of some singularities. He was 
more acquainted with men than books, but 
was generally thought to be pious, and 
scriptural in his views of gospel truth. He 
could speak audibly, and declare what he 
8 



so 

knew without intimidation. I do not know 
that he ever made great sacrifices to labour 
extensively in the gospel field ; but he 
preached occasionally wherever he was 
invited. He has finished his course and 
gone to give an account of his stewardship, 
and I trust has entered into peace. 
/ Mr. David Tuxbury was about eighteen 
years of age when he professed faith in 
Christ. Not long after this. I had the im- 
pression from his communications, that in 
some future day his mind would be led to 
think of preaching. I was intimate with 
his respectable family, had baptized his 
mother and several of his sisters ; and his 
father and two of his brothers have been 
baptized since. I intimated to David's 
father what might be expected concerning 
his son ; and suo;gested the propriety of 
sending him to school, as his opportunities 
had been limited. But the good man 
thought there was no danger of any such 
thing, and put him to a butcher, which 
business he followed about ten years, and 
accumulated a handsome interest ; then, as 
he has told me since, his mind was so much 
exercised on the subject of preaching, that 
when he went to market with meat he 
would forget his customers and pass them, 
and return with his meat unsold. 

Mr. Tuxbury relinquished his business, 
entered Philips Academy, at Exeter, and 
tarried one year, at his own expense. The 



87 

church called him to ordination in the sum- 
mer of 1811. Dr. Daniel Sharp preached 
the sermon. I shall have something more 
to say of him hereafter. 

In December, 1796, my beloved brother, 
William Bachelder, v/as ordiuned and set- 
tled as pastor of the Baptist church in Ber- 
wick, Me. I was called to attend the coun- 
sel and requested to preach the ordination 
sermon. I arranged a sermon in my mind 
as well as I could, but when the time arriv- 
ed for me to deliver it, I felt straitened 
through diffidence. Here were a number 
of aged brethren in the ministry, Shep- 
hard, Hooper, Powers and others, older and 
more experienced than myself; a very 
large assembly before me ; was in a part of 
the country where I was a stranger; and a 
sense of my responsibility altogether bore 
me down, and led me to cry to the Lord for 
help. But soon after I commenced, my 
burden was removed, and I spoke with 
freedom and much tender feeling. In ad- 
dressino- the different classes of my audi- 
ence both ministers and people were much 
affected. Text, 2 Tim. 'ii. 15 ; '' Study to 
show thyself approved unto God, a work' 
man that needeth not to be ashamed, right- 
ly dividing the word of truth." 

Soon after my return, I received a letter 
from Brother Bachelder, informing me that 
his people had expressed a desire to have 
the sermon printed. This perplexed me ; 



88 

for I had expected no such thing; had little 
or nothing of it written ; did not know that 
I could recollect it correctly, and doubted 
whether it was best to consume time and 
paper with it. After all, I thought it would 
be a fine thing to see a sermon of mine in 
print. I went to work, and, by the help of 
a young collegian, made out a copy, show- 
ed it to a minister who heard it delivered, 
and he pronounced it a good copy. I then 
committed it to the press, and derived some 
pecuniary advantage from the sale of it, if 
nothing else. 

I had before this compiled a small hymn 
book, w^iich passed three editions ; had 
written several circular letters and some 
other things, which were printed ; but in 
preparing this sermon for the press, I was 
more deeply impressed than ever with a 
sense of my want of literature. I was now 
led to pay more attention to English gram- 
mar, composition, &c. 

I had been told by some Pedobaptists 
that the want of learning was the cause of 
my being a Baptist. Being thus stimulat- 
ed, and having a young gentleman board- 
ing with me part of the time for two years, 
as a school-master, who had been educated 
at Harvard University, I now resolved to 
improve the opportunity to learn Latin and 
Greek. I procured suitable books and 
commenced, but never learned much ; and 
most of what I learned I soon foraot. But 



89 

I found that a very few Greek words were 
sufiicient to put some cavillers to silence ; 
one divine said he had not looked into his 
Greek Testament for five years. Another 
said he never understood it so as to be able 
to translate. 

Being chosen by the people, I went 
Representative to the General Court for 
the years 1799 and 1800. While I was in 
Court a bill was brought before the House 
for a general assessment for the support of 
gospel ministers, which was committed, 
and I was chosen on the committee. I 
was opposed to the passing of any law of 
the kind, but did not know how to prevent 
it in the House, but by rendering it as odi- 
ous as possible. When the committee met, 
I moved to have the clause struck out of 
the bill which excepted the Quakers, and 
argued in favour of my motion, that the 
Quakers had equal privileges with other 
citizens, and why should they be exempted 
from assessment any more than others who 
might be as conscientious as they. The 
clause was struck out, and the bill present- 
ed and read before the House for informa- 
tion, and a time appointed for the second 
reading. I afterward saw a Quaker, be- 
longing to the House, and told him the ob- 
ject of striking out said clause, and wished 
him to stimulate his friends to raise all pos- 
sible opposition to the bill. My object 
was accomplished, and the bill defeated. 
8* 



90 

But I found many things unpleasant to me 
in being connected with the General Court. 
John Adams was now President of the 
United States, and Thomas Jefferson was 
candidate for election the next year. Poli- 
tics ran high, and parties were violent in 
their opposition. I became dissatisfied in 
having so much of my mind and time ta- 
ken up with these things, and declined be- 
ing a candidate for another year. 

The state of our church and society was 
harmonious, although there were not many 
anxious minds among us. But our young 
converts appeared to walk worthy of their 
profession. Four years after the church 
was constituted, it contained about seventy- 
five members. 

While I resided in this town, I frequent- 
ly preached in Exeter, Stratham, Methuen, 
and East parish of Haverhill. Since then, 
respectable churches have been constitut- 
ed in all these towns, and others not far dis- 
tant. The church in Exeter was consti- 
tuted while I was living at Newtown. Dr. 
H. Smith, I. Stone, J. Bradley, S. Lovell 
and myself were the ministers present. 
Thus the cause of truth was prevailing 
around us ; and I had gained means to 
pay about three hundred dollars toward my 
farm, with fair prospects of paying the 
whole. But about January, 1801, a sad 
change in our circumstances took place. 
A dark cloud overwhelmed all our outward 



91 

prospects. One of my neighbours, with 
whom we had ever lived on terms of friend- 
ship, and who generally attended our meet- 
ing, although he had been a member of 
the old church under parson Ames, a well 
read man of good abilities, and I ever con- 
sidered him a systematic, thorough-going 
old fashioned iVrminian, about sixty years 
of age, several of whose children and grand 
children are members of the Baptist church, 
of a still quiet turn of mind, and from 
whose influence I apprehended no danger, 
went one Sabbath out of town to hear 
a Methodist preacher, and was so well 
pleased that he invited him into town, to 
preach a sermon in the meeting-house. 
Many attended, and he engaged to come 
again and again. At length a town meet- 
ing was called to see if the town would 
grant the use of the meeting-house to the 
Methodists a part of the time. They set- 
tled the question by taking every man's 
name who were in favour of the Baptists, 
and the names of those who were in favour 
of the Methodists ; and the use of the 
meeting-house was granted accordino- to 
the number of each party, which gave the 
Methodists about nineteen Sabbaths in the 
year, which they never failed of improv- 
ing. Our house was crowded with people, 
whether I preached or the Methodists. 
The people were now in great bustle and 
contention. When meeting closed on Sab- 



92 

bath noon, the men would meet on the 
green before the house, and stand and dis- 
pute with great warmth till worship com- 
menced again. This they did Sabbath af- 
ter Sabbath. 

The Methodist preachers came, one after 
another, to fill up their time for occupying 
the meeting-house on the Sabbath, and 
sometimes on other days. I sometimes 
heard them at their lectures, but never on 
the Sabbath. I attended a lecture in the 
meeting-house when the preacher exhibit- 
ed a copy of our church articles of faith and 
practice, animadverting on several parts, 
and condemning them in harsh terms. But 
I never replied or spoke in any of their 
meetings. When it was their turn to have 
the meeting-house, I preached in a private 
house or barn, but more frequently went 
out of town. Thus we were in a confused 
state. The Baptist society, as such, had no 
claim on the meeting-house ; that was the 
town's property. The Baptist people in 
town were sufficiently numerous to have 
voted the house to themselves at any time, 
but they could not justify themselves in so 
doing. 

The best part of our society lived in 
other towns, who, after this contention 
arose, took themselves off. Some of them 
were our ablest supporters, so that more 
than half of my support failed. The 
church generally, whether in town or out, 



9S 

kept together. Two or three individuals, 
however, were disaffected and withdrew, 
and were excluded. 

These circumstances led me to conclude 
that I must dissolve my connection with 
this people, however painful ; for if I tar- 
ried I should not only fail of paying for my 
little farm, but should lose what I had paid. 
If the society had agreed to unite in build- 
ing a meeting-house as they were abund- 
antly able, they might have done very well; 
but under existing circumstances, I con- 
cluded it my duty to ask a dismission, and 
sell m}^ farm, and accept of the invitation 
of the Baptist church and society in Barn- 
stable. 

I sold my farm for about what I gave, 
parted with my people in great friendship, 
and removed to Barnstable, in November, 
1801. The people in Newtown have con- 
tinued the same policy. The Baptist peo- 
ple have had the house more than any 
other societ}'. 

About ten months after I left Newtown, 
I made them a friendly visit, and was told 
that the Methodists had not preached in 
town since I left them. The church ob- 
tained Elder Samuel Ambrose, who con- 
tinued with them a year or two. Elder 
Otis Robinson and others preached to them 
occasionally. But they had preaching but 
seldom till Elder Tuxbury was ordained, 
in 1811; after which he served them as 



94 

pastor till 1829, when they were in a very 
low and alllicted state. By the request of 
Elder Tuxbury and the church, 1 spent 
about ten weeks with them in the fall of 
1(S29, and had a church-meeting and com- 
munion season. During Elder Tuxbury's 
ministr}^ among them for eighteen years, 
they had made him very little compensa- 
tion for his services. Some misunderstand- 
ing existed among some of the mem[>ers 
of the church, and I tried to effect a com- 
promise, but found it a difficult case, and 
turned their attention to the subject of 
{}uiiding a meeting-house ; drew them a 
plan of a house, and a plan for building by 
shares ; called a meeting, when the plans 
w^ere approved and about half the shares 
taken up. A committee was chosen to 
prosecute the business. They compensat- 
ed me generously for my services, and I 
left them with ardent desires for their pros- 
perity. They have since completed their 
meeting-house, which is a very handsome 
and commodious building. Elder Harris is 
their pastor, and they are blessed with un- 
ion, increase and prosperity. 



CHAPTER YI, 

I VISITED the people in Barnstable, in 
the month of October, 1801, by the request 
of their committee, received their propo- 
sals and accepted them, and commenced my 
labours with them the next month. The 
church was constituted in the year 1772, 
by Elder Backus and others. It had never 
been large, and now contained about sixty 
members. The society was respectable. 
In the infant state of the church they had 
the labours of Elder Abner Lewis, who 
resided w^ith them a few years. They had 
also the labours of Elder Isaac Case, soon af- 
ter he commenced in the ministry. About 
the year 1789, Mr. Enoch Eldridge, from 
Harwich, was ordained their pastor. He 
i^ontinued with them, s:reatlv beloved and 
esteemed, till his death, in Ma}^ 1801. 

This church and society had been great- 
ly embarrassed with taxes for the support 
of Pedobaptist ministers. Richard Lewis, 
Esq. now in the 82d year of his age, has 
been a great benefactor to this church and 
society, and his wife was a beloved mem- 
ber. He had his horse taken by the con- 
stable for a Pedobaptist minister's tax, and 



96 

sold at auction. A friend bid off the horse 
and returned it to him. The constable 
came with the overplus money and offered 
it to Mr. Lewis, but he refused it, and has 
never received it since. This was the last 
instance of the Pedobaptists making dis- 
tress on any of the Baptist society for min- 
ister's taxes. 

Soon after this, Mr. Lewis was chosen 
one of the Selectmen of the town, which 
ofhce he held twenty-five years in succes- 
sion, when he resigned. The society had 
a small meeting-house in the village of 
Hyannis, which they enlarged in 1802, and 
the same year assisted the Pedobaptists in 
erecting a decent one story building in 
Oysterville, in the South-west part of the 
town, seven miles from Hyannis, where the 
Baptist society have had preaching one 
Sabbath in a month ever since ; other so- 
cieties have generally occupied it the rest 
of the time. 

I carried with me to this town about 
three hundred dollars, and had two horses 
and two chaises. I bought four acres of 
land near the meeting-house, on which I 
dug a well and paid for it, but did not in- 
tend to build till I was able. But my 
friends advised, and agreed to assist me, 
which they did beyond my expectation, so 
that I built a good house, barn, &c. All 
the cost was twelve hundred and fifty dol- 
lars, when completed, in 1802. 



97 

But while we were thus smiled upon in 
temporal things, we were vi^ted with sick- 
ness. We had now four children. We had 
left our oldest son in Boston, with Mr.Samuel 
Chamberlin, who took him into his store. 
Our two dausfhters and little son were ta- 
ken sick with the measles ; my daughters 
recovered ; but my son, after the measles 
subsided, was taken with a fever, and died 
in May, 1802, aged three years and four 
months. 

This was a distressing event. Mrs. Peak 
was very feeble. For about two weeks I 
was not absent from the child more than 
two hours at a time, day or night. On the 
Sabbath before he died I had a tender time 
in preaching from "What I do, ye know 
not now, but ye shall know hereafter." 
We had been called to part with one son in 
Windsor, in the year 1789, aged one year 
and twenty days, to this we had given the 
name of John ; to the last that died, we 
gave the name of John Stow. Both these 
little sons had very much gained the affec- 
tions of their parents ; but after this, it 
seems that my children never appeared to 
me as before; they appeared like dying 
children. I hope we did not murmur 
against the Lord, but we were grieved. 
After this, my wife was unwell and under 
the doctor's care, during the time we re- 
mained in Barnstable. 
9 



98 

From April 1802, till April 1804, a kind 
of epidemic fever raged in Barnstable and 
ricinity. In some neighbourhoods half the 
people were sick, and a great number died. 
The oldest people did not remember so 
distressing a sickness. Our society was 
scattered over the towns of Barnstable and 
Yarmouth. I was constantly called to visit 
the sick and dying and the house of mourn- 
ing. I attended some lectures, but there 
was no special attention to religion. I was 
favoured with health till Auo'ust, 1804. 

On the second Sabbath in that month, I 
preached at Oysterville. In the evening I 
was taken with a violent pain in my head, 
back and limbs. The next day was wet 
and rainy, so that I stayed another night at 
the house of my good friend, Benjamin 
Hallet, where every thing was done to give 
relief that friendship and kindness could 
dictate. But my distress continued, or 
rather increased, with sudden changes of 
heat and cold. Tuesday morning was fair, 
and I got into the chaise with a young gen- 
tleman and sat out for home ; but I rode in 
great misery. I calculated much on stop- 
ping at a kind of half-way house, where I 
had a friend, and rest myself for a few min- 
utes on a bed. But great was my diso])- 
pointment, to find the house shut up. I 
laid on the ground and rolled over and 
over, but got no rest or ease. I got into 
the chaise and reached home. I took my 



99 

pen and wrote a line to the doctor, five 
miles off, informing him that I had a fever, 
and wished to see him as quick as possible. 
I gave it to my son who was then present, 
and he went immediately. I have a recol- 
lection of Dr. Savage being in the room, 
and saying that he should not have come 
till morning if I had not wrote the billet. 
But I was soon deprived of the exercise of 
my reason, and so remained seventeen days 
before I began to amend. I was favoured 
with momentary intervals of reason, in 
which I realised that I was very sick, but 
did not feel alarmed. For many days to- 
gether I did not speak a loud word, and for 
some weeks was unable to turn myself in 
bed. They gave me nothing for nourish- 
ment for fifteen days but wine and water. 
I craved clear cold water, but the doctor 
strictly forbid my having any water. 1 
perfectly remember his coming one after- 
noon and setting down by my bed ; I was 
thinking of water. I was so weak that I 
could only whisper. I beckoned, and he 
leaned toward me. I asked him which 
way he came? He said, by Baxter's mills. 
Did you let your horse drink 7 Yes. Will 
you be as kind to me as you are to your 
horse ? Tears came in his eyes. After a 
little pause he said, " my dear friend, you 
shall have water as soon as it will be safe 
for you, but you have been so long in a 
jstate of starvation and suffering under this 



100 

burning fever, that if you were to drink 
cold water it might throw you into a vio- 
lent relax, and then all the medicine in the 
world could not save you." I happened to 
have reason enough to feel the force of his 
remarks, and troubled my friends no more 
about water. But I had strange imagina- 
tions. I heard that Mr. Ban^s Youno; was 
dead, a particular friend, and one of my 
society, who was taken with the same fever 
at the same time that I was. At the same 
time I heard that Mr. Lewis had a child 
drowned. My mind was greatly agitated 
through the night. I thought Mr. L. was 
digging a grave in my room on the back 
side of my bed ; had completed it, and de- 
posited the coffins of Mr. Y. and his own 
child in the grave. I beckoned to Mrs. G. 
L. who was watching with me, and whis- 
pering, told her what was going on. She 
appeared surprised. I told her it was a 
fact ; she might look and see. She took 
the light and walked round the bed. I 
thought I turned over and pointed her to 
the coffins in the grave. The good wo- 
man did not attempt to undeceive me, but 
said she had great influence with Mr. L. 
who w^as her husband's brother ; she would 
persuade him to remove the dead, fill the 
grave, and put all in order as before. This 
satisfied me, and I was composed. 

For several days I was unable to move 
myself in bed ; my wife was so sick that 



101 

she was unable to get into the room to see 
me. But about the 17th day my fever came 
to a crisis, and I began to amend. I dis- 
tinctly remember how rejoiced I was when 
I awoke in the night and perceived that 
my hair was wet with sweat. From this 
time the fever subsided, but I found myself 
extremely weak. My flesh was reduced 
to such degree that my friends beheld me 
with astonishment. After I was able to sit 
up in bed I looked in a glass, and was so af- 
fected at the sight of myself that I wept 
like a child. It was about two months 
from the time I was taken sick before I 
was able to preach. 

When I first attempted to preach after 
mv sickness, I was so broken and confused 
in my communications, that it was said that 
I spake like one that had lost all recollec- 
tion. It was thought by some of my 
friends, for a while, that I should never 
regain my former state of mind. But, 
through infinite goodness, I gained strength 
of body and mind, and pursued the great 
work of preaching the word. But my dear 
wife grew nothing better, but rather worse. 
She had two of the most eminent physi- 
cians in the county, who frankly told me 
that if I wished my wife to live, I must 
move her off the Cape. They said she was 
debilitated with a hectic, and threatened 
with a pulmonary consumption ; the air on 
the Cape was too bracing for her constitu- 
9* 



102 

tion, &c. This advice was given in Janua- 
ry, 1805. From this time I thought much 
on the subject of removing my family to 
some other part of the country ; but it was 
a trying subject. I had been here but a 
few years ; was well situated ; unembar- 
rassed ; had a good support, a kind people, 
and an increasing society ; treated with at- 
tention and respect by other societies ; my 
people, who had been liberal in giving me 
assistance in building, &c. would be great- 
ly disappointed. But, on the other hand, 
I had been familiar with sickness and death 
in my family and congregation, ever since 
I had lived in the town ; the state of re- 
ligion was very low, and no signs of a re- 
vival ; only tw elve had been added to the 
church by baptism while I had been with 
them. I felt myself in a lonely situation, 
at a great distance from former acquaint- 
ance, and but one Baptist minister within 
forty miles. But I apprehended the cli- 
mate was unfavourable to the health of my- 
self and family. 

In May I went to Boston, and consulted 
with my good friend and brother, Dr. Bald- 
win, who informed me that a Baptist church 
had been constituted in Newbury port, a 
week or two before, which was in want of 
a pastor. I soon had an invitation and vis- 
ited them ; and, although they were in an 
infant state, and very feeble, they were 
very desirous of my coming to reside 



103 

among them. I soon came to a conclusion, 
sold my house and land for something: more 
than It cost, and removed to JNewburyport, 
in October, 1805. My youngest daughter 
was taken sick on the road. I left her and 
her mother at Dr. Samuel Chamberlin's, in 
Boston, and took my daughter Ploomy with 
me to Newburyport ; received my furni- 
ture, which came by water, set it up in my 
hired house, and soon returned to Boston, 
where I found my daughter dangerously 
sick of a typhus fever. Dr. Jackson paid 
the utmost attention to the child, but it 
languished and died, aged twelve years and 
two months. 

The death of our dear Pamela was mat- 
ter of inexpressible grief to the bereaved 
parents and lonely brother and sister. It 
was affecting to look upon our lonely daugh- 
ter, who was but about seventeen months 
older than her sister Pamela. They were 
nearly of a size, and their mother had 
dressed them alike. They resembled each 
other so nearly, that our intimate neigh- 
bours could seldom distinguish them. But 
now one was taken and the other left. Oh, 
what a breach was made in our little fami- 
ly ! I suppose she brought the disorder 
from Barnstable. She had a hoarseness 
and thirst which increased on the journey, 
but she complained very little till we ar- 
rived in Boston. Our friends in the city 
sympathised with us in the most affection- 



104 

ate manner. Dr. Jackson gave in his bill 
of attendance, amounting to thirty dollars. 
The funeral was attended from Dr. Bald- 
win's house. Dr. Stillman prayed. A 
kind friend had his tomb opened, and made 
me welcome there to deposit the remains 
of my child, in the North part of the city, 
within a few rods of where I am now writ- 
ing. We tarried over the Sabbath, and de- 
sired prayers at Dr. Baldwin's meeting. 

We now set out for Newbury port and 
found our house and goods in safety. But 
oh ! the gloom now cast upon every sur- 
rounding object, and all our earthly pros- 
pects ! Of five beloved children we had 
two only left. Our son had married Miss 
Sally, the youngest daughter of Richard 
Lewis, Esq. of Barnstable, where he lived. 

I was now afflicted with hoarseness and 
a distressing cough for several weeks. Our 
daughter was taken sick soon after we ar- 
rived in Newburyport, and remained un- 
der the doctor's care for two or three 
months. My beloved wife, in her weak 
state of health, almost sunk under her re- 
peated troubles. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The Baptist church, with which I now 
commenced my ministerial labours, was 
constituted in May, 1805, consisted of 
eighteen members, chiefly males, and was 
called Newbury and Newburyport Baptist 
Church. They held their meetings in a 
school-house within the bounds of Newbu- 
ry, in a district called Joppa. As yet they 
had no society connected with the church 
for the support of preaching. They adopt- 
ed the articles of the First Baptist Church 
in Boston. They were but a feeble band 
of loving disciples. I agreed to serve them 
one year for no other compensation than 
a weekly contribution, on condition that 
the meeting should be removed to the cen- 
tre of Newburyport, whenever a conven- 
ient place should be obtained. 

A society was soon organized, and appli- 
cation made for the use of the town-house, 
which was granted. Our congregation now 
increased four to one. The contribution at 
Joppa, amounted to about one dollar per 
week, and at the town-house, to nearly five 
on an average. But some of our good 
bretljren in Joppa, were incommoded by 



106 



the removal of the meeting ; but I visited 
them often and preached at their houses, and 
they soon became reconciled. The atten- 
tion of the people increased through the 
winter, and our prospects were more en- 



couraging. 



In the spring, my daughter had recover- 
ed her health, and her mother enjoyed bet- 
ter health than she had done for some years. 
I had strength to preach frequently in dif- 
ferent parts of Newbury and Newbury- 
port ; and the holy Spirit attended the 
word to the conviction of some of the 
young people. 

The members of the church were bless- 
ed with a spirit of prayer, and our prayer 
meetings became frequent, and very inter- 
esting. I held an inquiring meeting at my 
house on Monday evenings. In May and 
June, we had several candidates for bap- 
tism and membership, who were received. 
Brother Thomas Crocker, now deacon of 
the Baptist church, was among the first 
who were baptized. 

Thus the good work progressed, so that 
in about one year, the church had doubled 
in number. Among other converts, who 
were baptized, was our much esteemed 
brother, John Butler, now pastor of the 
Baptist church in North Yarmouth, Me. 
He was about eighteen years of age, and an 
apprentice to Mr. William HoUiday, shoe- 
maker, and an Episcopalian. John's, pa- 



107 

rents belonged to a Congregational church 
in town. I conversed with them respect- 
ing John. Mr. Holliday was very cordial 
and gave a good account of John. But old 
Mr. Butler was displeased; he did not 
doubt John's sincerity, but said he should 
forbid his being baptized. I told him that 
he could act his pleasure ; but advised him 
not to forbid it, but try to convince him of 
his error ; for John was old enough to be- 
lieve and act for himself; and if he forbid 
it, perhaps it would make no difference re- 
specting his being baptized. He conclud- 
ed not to forbid, but try to convince him, 
I baptized John and three of his sisters. 
The parents became friendly and joined 
our society. Mr. Holliday joined our 
meeting, and his wife united with the 
church. Thus we were made to rejoice, 
and give thanks to the Lord for the tri- 
umph of truth over error. 

Mr. Nathan Ames was also added to our 
church. Both these young men were ap- 
probated as preachers, and were afterwards 
ordained ; Mr. Butler at Hanover, Mass., 
and Mr. Ames at Sutton, N. H. ; the latter 
is now pastor of the Baptist church in 
Washington, N. H. and both have been, 
and continue to be useful labourers in the 
Lord's vineyard. 

Mr. Herburt Marshall, shortly after he 
was baptized and joined the church, was 
approved as a candidate for the ministry , 



108 

was educated at Brown University, and 
called to ordination by the Baptist church 
in Woburn. He afterward went to the 
State of North Carolina, where he died. 
A son of Deacon Thomas Crocker has 
been licensed by that church, and is now 
at Newton Institution, preparing for the 
work of the ministry. There may be oth- 
ers that I can give no account of. 

The town-house was removed, and w^e 
obtained the use of a building called the 
Tabernacle, which we occupied till we 
were provided with a meeting-house. As 
early as September, 1806, our society be- 
gan to consult on the subject of building a 
meeting-house. At length they had near- 
ly come to the conclusion to build a cheap 
wooden house, in Lime Street, toward the 
South part of the town. But at one of the 
society meetings, a number of respectable 
merchants of the town came in, and re- 
marked that it was not good policy for this 
young and flourishing society to build an 
unsightly wooden building in a remote part 
of the town ; but if the society w^ould 
agree to build a good brick house in a cen- 
tral part of the town, they would pledge 
themselves to assist in the undertaking, and 
could engage for a number of other gen- 
tlemen. 

This was considered unexpected en- 
couragement. The committee was enlarg- 
ed by adding some of these gentlemen, and 



109 

they were directed to make inquiry and 
report. At an adjourned meeting they 
reported a lot in Liberty Street, cost 
^ 2375 ; a plan of a house to be built of 
brick, 70 feet by 60; and a plan for build- 
ing, by dividing the cost into one hundred 
shares. All of which was approved, and 
agents were appointed to obtain subscri- 
bers. Sixty shares were soon taken up. 

The proprietors had a meeting and re- 
quested me to obtain subscribers or dona- 
tions in other towns. I obtained a number 
of shares in Boston, Charlestown and Ha- 
verhill ; and that generous benefactor, Mr, 
N. Brown, of Providence, gave one hun- 
dred dollars. At length, when about nine- 
ty shares were engaged, the proprietors 
resolved to proceed, and appointed a build- 
ing committee. The work was commenc- 
ed in April, 1807, and was completed in 
July, 1808, and cost about ^ 16,200. It 
was dedicated, and our church took pos- 
session. 

Now a serious difficulty arose. The 
pews were appraised so high, in order to 
meet the cost, that but few of our society 
were able to purchase. Some of our socie- 
ty had invested nearly all their property, 
hoping to receive it again when the pews 
were put to sale, but were now sadly dis- 
appointed. The political state of the coun- 
try was distressing and alarming. The 
embargo and non-intercourse laws depriv- 
10 



110 

ed merchants, sailors and mechanics of em- 
ployment. The proprietors had obtained 
an act of incorporation, and stimulated our 
society to become incorporated. The pro- 
prietors had advanced a large amount, and 
were impatient to have it refunded. At 
one of their meetings, they came very 
near getting a vote to change the meeting- 
house to some other denomination. 

One unknown benefactor, through the 
agency of Mr. Harris, late of Charlestown, 
gave the church the princely donation of 
one thousand dollars, and several proprie- 
tors in Boston and Charlestown, nearly as 
much, amounting in all to near two thou- 
sand dollars, to be vested in the meeting- 
house, to be holden in trust for the church ; 
that thereby the church might, by the aid 
of the society, be able to retain the gov- 
ernment of the house. Now the proprie- 
tors agreed to take up their shares in pews, 
and thus bring the business to a close. Af- 
ter this, the pews were sold, and our con- 
gregation increased rapidly. 

In 1809, we were favoured with tokens 
of a gracious rain of righteousness, which 
continued about two years, and increased 
our church to about eighty members. 

For nearly six years after we came to 
this town, my wife enjoyed much better 
health ; but in June, 1810, her health be- 
gan to fail. She languished under a hectic 
fever and pulmonary consumption, and 



Ill 

died March 5, 1811. Some account is 
given of her in the Massachusetts Baptist 
Missionary Magazine, vol. iii. p. 52. It is 
in vain for me to attempt a description of 
ray feelings on this occasion. I endeavour- 
ed to commit my case to God, and to con- 
sole my lonely daughter under the great 
loss she had sustained in the death of a pi- 
ous, discreet and affectionate parent. 

April, 1811, our society contained two 
hundred rateable polls. At their annual 
meeting held this month, they voted me a 
salary of six hundred dollars, which was 
done with much harmony and good feeling. 
This was very acceptable to me ; for I had, 
by sickness and otherwise, spent what 
money I brought from Barnstable, about 
seven hundred dollars, and was some in- 
volved ; but now my prospects were en- 
courasino;. The church was in peace and 
prosperity, receiving accessions monthly. 
But *Sve should suspect some danger nigh, 
where we possess delight." Little did any 
of us think of a destructive conflagration, 
so nigh, that should demolish our meeting- 
house, consume my dwelling, and spread 
desolation and ruin all around us ! 

I returned from Boston on the 30th of 
May, late at night, and found, as I expect- 
ed, my young brother, John Butler, and 
sister Nancy Payn, at my house, waiting 
to be joined in marriage. Next morning 
our friends took their leave of us. The 



112 

young woman had lived in my family about 
two years, highly esteemed ; but now my 
daughter was all the company I had. 

My daughter went to spend the day with 
one of our good sisters, and I walked round 
the town to visit the sick. About sunset 
we met at our habitation, as we had agreed, 
j^iter family worship, being weary, 1 re- 
tired a few minutes before nine o'clock, 
Mj daughter was reading in an adjoining 
chamber. I had scarcely composed myself, 
when we were alarmed with the cr}' of fire ! 

Having no documents at hand, I shall, ac- 
cording to the best of my recollection, give 
some account of this destructive fire. It 
commenced in the loft of an unoccupied 
stable, in a street called Merchants Row, 
in the care of a sheriff, near the market, at 
a considerable distance from the house I 
occupied, in Middle Street, owned by 
Capt. John Denney. 

The first discovery of the fire was a few 
minutes after nine o'clock, on the evening 
of the 31st of May, 1811. At that time 
there were probably more than one hun- 
dred people walking in the streets. In- 
stantly a large column of fire burst through 
the roof of the wooden stable, and ascend- 
ed to an astonishing height. The engine 
companies were directly at their posts. 
My daughter and I locked our door and 
left the house. She went to a near neigh- 
bour's, and after telling her that the fire 



118 

would not reach our house, it being at a 
great distance, and a large range of brick 
buildings intervened, I went and joined 
the ranks and handed buckets. Instead of 
the engines prevailing to extinguish the 
fire, it prevailed on them. Such was the 
heat that the ranks were broken and re- 
treated for a new stand. I then returned 
to my house, by a different route, and found 
my daughter with the key in the door ; 
but such was her agitation that she was not 
able to unlock it. As we entered the 
house, I told her not to meddle with any 
thing, but keep watch ; for I was confident 
that the fire would be extinguished before 
it reached us. She made no reply, but 
went deliberately to work and packed up 
her glass, crockery, clothing, &c. ready to 
be removed. At length, I perceived the 
fire entered the further end of our street. 
I now began to prepare to remove my 
goods to a place of safety, packed my libra- 
ry, and took down my clock and two bed- 
steads. Our friends came to our assistance 
and conveyed them to a room we had hir- 
ed for evening meetings, in Capt. David 
Farnham's house, in School Street, some 
by wheelbarrows, but mostly by hand. 
Before we had removed all our goods, the 
fire blazed upon the roof of our house, and 
we were obliged to leave. Our best cham- 
ber, containing some of our most valuable 
10* 



114 

furniture, clothing, &c. we were obliged to 
leave untouched. 

We left the house about three o'clock, 
A. M. and went to tlie liouse where my 
goods were deposited. Here I saw what 
aifected me more than any thing I had seen 
during the doleful night. My dear daugh- 
ter Ploomy had manifested great fortitude 
and discretion till now. When I arrived 
I found the dear child sitting on some part 
of the furniture, giving vent to her grief 
in a flood of tears, groans, sighs and sobs ! 
This unmanned me. I was too much af- 
fected to attempt to comfort her. I left 
the liouse and walked toward the fire. I 
went into Mr. J. Dunyon's house, ascend- 
ed to the top of the roof, where I had a 
fair view of the whole field of fire. Here 
I saw the roof of our meeting-house tumb- 
ling in, leaving the brick walls principal- 
ly standing. But what an awful sight ! 
Bright flames ascending to a great height ; 
explosions of powder, spirits, &c. ; vast col- 
umns of cinders and flames ascending in 
quick succession to the clouds ; a dense 
smoke ascending from the burning of tar, 
rosin, pitch, &c. formed thick clouds which 
spread over the town in awful majesty. 
The roaring of the flames accompanied 
with wind ; the sound of the trumpets and 
voices of the firemen ; the crash of build- 
ings ; the cry of the sufferers for help to 
secure their goods, and the increasing pro- 



ii5 

gress of the conflagration, altogether was 
the most appalling scene I ever witnessed. 
I now joined the ranks, and continued to 
hand buckets till sunrise, within sight of 
where my house stood the evening before, 
but now demolished. Before the lire abat- 
ed, companies of engine men had arrived 
from Salem, Beverly and Haverhill. 

There had been very little rain for sev- 
eral weeks, and every thing combustible 
was uncommonly dry. Soon after the fire 
commenced, the wind blew fresh from the 
West. The destructive element continued 
its desolating ravages more than half the 
distance from Market Square to Federal 
Street, and from Middle Street to Merri- 
mack River, containing about two and a 
half acres, comprising a large portion of 
the most ancient, wealthy and commercial 
part of the town. Thirteen wharves with 
their stores, and about ninety dwelling 
houses were consumed. The whole num- 
ber of buildings destroyed was two hun- 
dred and forty. The estimated loss about 
one million of dollars. 

The fire continued to rage and extend 
till day -light, when the wind shifted to the 
East, and brought on a sea turn or fogg, 
when it was easily got under and extin- 
guished. Much property was consumed 
in the streets for want of means to convey 
it away. Goods to a great amount were 
deposited in our meeting-house as a place 



116 

of safety, it being brick, and at a distance 
from where the fire commenced ; but all 
was destroyed, either in the house or in the 
streets. 

By the polite invitation of Rev. John 
Giles and his people, I preached in his 
meeting-house the next Sabbath after the 
fire ; in the morning, from Isaiah v. 24, 
" Therefore as the fire devoureth the stub- 
ble, and the flame consumeth the chafT, so 
their root shall be as rottenness, and their 
blossom shall go up as dust : because they 
have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, 
and despised the word of the Holy One of 
Israel." I do not recollect the text em- 
ployed in the afternoon, but the object was 
to comfort the afflicted who put their trust 
in the Lord. 

Before the next Sabbath, we made ap- 
plication for the use of the Court-house, as 
a place of w^orship, and obtained it. We 
soon began to consult on the subject of ob- 
taining a meeting-house. Our society 
were not able to build. They had been 
great losers by the fire, beside what prop- 
erty they had in the meeting-house. Of 
one hundred families that were burnt out, 
eleven belonged to our society. The loss 
of Capt. Joseph O'Brien was estimated at 
thirty thousand dollars. He had been our 
greatest benefactor, but now his property 
was reduced to a trifle. The most of our 
society consisted of young people who had 



117 

not much property. The town appointed 
agents to travel in different directions, to 
solicit donations for the relief of the suffer- 
ers. The donations were very liberal, 
amounting in all to more than one hundred 
thousand dollars. This noble charity was 
honourably distributed among the sufferers, 
according to an equitable rule adopted by 
the town. Some who had property and 
means of obtaining a living, received very 
little, though their loss might have been 
great. Others received nothing, whatever 
their loss might have been. Some of the 
aged and infirm, who had lost all their 
property, received perhaps, seventy-fiv«i 
per cent. As to the distribution of the do- 
nations, I think there was not much dissat- 
isfaction expressed by the sufferers, unless 
it was in private, and without cause. But 
all this did not aid our society, in obtaining 
another meeting-house. We had a church- 
meeting, and tried to humble ourselves be- 
fore the Lord, and pray for divine wisdom 
and direction. At length the church unan- 
imously adopted a plan of operation, pro- 
vided that our society should concur. The 
society met, and concurred with the plan 
proposed by the church, and I received ^n 
appointment as follows ; 



f 



118 



To the Humane and Benevolent of all distinctions ; the 
folloioing statements and solicitations are humbly sub- 
mitted by the Baptist Church and Society of Newbu- 
ry and Newburyport. 

It is hereby certified, That we have suffered 
largely by the late unexampled conflagration. Eleven 
families were turned into the streets, and their habita- 
tions consumed. Twenty-One stores and shops, exclu- 
sive of barns and other buildings were also destroyed, 
which were owned or occupied by members of thici 
Society. But we most regret the loss of our once de- 
lightful place of worship, which fell a sacrifice to the 
devouring flames. It was a neat brick building, seven- 
ty feet by sixty; had been completed only three years; 
and cost more than sixteen thousand dollars. It was 
well filled with the young and rising part of the com- 
munity, more than eighty of whom are members of the 
church. Our loss is small compared with the whole 
town ; but when compared with any other society, it is 
large in proportion to our wealth. The loss of the so- 
ciety and of individuals, as estimated by a committee 
appointed by the town, amounts to $46,085. Wears 
unable, in our present circumstances, to rebuild our 
meeting-house ; yet we feel constrained to make the at- 
tempt, if we may be encouraged by the aid of a gener- 
ous public. 

Therefore, we have appointed our beloved pastor, the 
Rev. John Peak, our agent to solicit and receive such 
donations as the wealthy and benevolent may be dispos- 
ed to bestow, for the purpose of erecting a place of 
worship for our accommodation. The smallest sum will 
be gratefully received, and faithfully applied. 

Done in Church-meeting, June 10, 1811. 



HENRY MERRILL, ^ „ 
JESSE DORMAN, ) ^^(^<^oni- 



Nathan Ames, Asst. Clerk. 
In Society Meeting, June 11, 1811. Read and ap- 
proved. Signed by order of and in behalf of the So- 
ciety. JOSEPH O'BRIEN. 



119 

The society agreed to pay my expenses, 
and pay me four hundred dollars at the end 
of the year ; and I consented to relinquish 
the salary of six hundred dollars, voted me 
in April preceding. The expenses of 
preaching in my absence to be paid by 
contributions. I purchased a horse and 
chaise, and took my departure on the 12th 
of June, and made but short stops, till I ar- 
rived in West Greenwich, R. I. Here 
the Groton Union Baptist Association was 
in session, and a large number of ministers 
and private Christians were here assem- 
bled ; but I knew none of them, except 
Brother William Bentley, who was all at- 
tention to me, and conducted me to a kind 
family where I was well entertained. 
Here I became acquainted with our belov- 
ed brother, Bela Jacobs, now pastor of a 
church in Cambridge. I preached before 
the association, and told my mournful tale. 
They called for a contribution instantly, 
which was generous ; and afterwards I re- 
ceived considerable sums from several of 
the churches composing the association. 
Having the company of brethren, I went 
to Norwich, Con. where I spoke to the 
people in their meeting-house. I spent 
the next Sabbath in Lebanan, and preach- 
ed. Mr. N. Dodge laid my case before 
the people, and obtained a contribution. 

On Monday, I rode to Hartford, and 
went to the house of Deacon Bolles. As 



120 

soon as he ascertained who I was, having 
heard the pitiful story by his daughter, the 
wife of Dr. L. Bolles, he sat down and gave 
vent to tears of sympathy. This unex- 
pected feeling in a stranger, wrought pow- 
erfully on me ; so that a few minutes pass- 
ed, before we had much conversation. But 
I found him a most heavenly-minded Chris- 
tian, and his household an emblem of Par- 
adise. 

The Baptist Church in Hartford were in 
trouble. Their pastor had a short time 
before resigned his connection with the 
church, and they were without a pastor. 
They attended promptly to the subject of 
my mission. I went to Suffield, and 
preached twice, Mr. Caleb Green propi^s- 
ed to collect something shortly, and for- 
ward it to me, which I received. 

I returned to Hartford, and heard Mr. 
Lorenzo Dow preach in the Baptist meet- 
ing-house._ I felt grieved for the people, 
that they should hear such a perversion of 
the gospel. The next evening I spoke to 
the people, and then pursued my way to 
New Haven. Here I found kind, affection- 
ate Christians, but unable to advance more 
than a hospitable entertainment. 

Arrived on Saturday, at Elder Asabel 
Morse's, in Stratfield, and learned that he 
was gone to Huntington, where he was to 
preach the next day ; rode there next 
morning, nine miles, with one of the breth- 



121 

ren ; preached part of the day ; joined the 
coramunion with them ; had a happy sea- 
son, and received their bounty. 

On Monday I pursued my way as far as 
Rye, where I staid the night, and received 
the good man's dollar. 1 am sorry I have 
forgotten his name. 

On Tuesday, 2d day of July, I arrived 
in the city of New York. I went to the 
house of Elder John Williams, pastor of 
the Baptist church in Olive Street, and 
presented a letter from Dr. Baldwin. He 
received me kindly, and wislied me to 
preach that evening. I put up w4th Dea- 
con John Withington. He and his lady 
paid me every attention, and more than I 
could wish. 

I had the statements, &c. which I re- 
ceived from the church and society, print- 
ed in handbills, and presented some of 
them to the brethren ; but was told that 
they could not encourage me that I should 
obtain any thing in New York, for they 
were poor, and the churches were all in 
debt, &c. But the ministers and deacons 
were to have a meeting in a few days, 
when they would take my case under con- 
sideration. I continued with them about 
a week, and preached every evening, and 
three times in different meeting-houses, on 
the Sabbath. 

On the 4th of July, I called on Mr. 
Parkinson, gave him a letter from Dr. 
li 



122 

Baldwin, and presented him a handbilL 
lie read with a sad countenance, and said 
he was sorry for me, and my people, but it 
was not possible for his people to help us. 
The church was in great diihculty. They 
bad been at great expense in lawsuits, and 
perhaps must be at more expense. But he 
wished me to preach for him the next Sab- 
hath and break bread to the church. This 
I consented to do in the afternoon of the 
next Sabbath, 

This, Independent day, I dined willi 
Brother Smith, in Broadway, in company 
with Brother Benjamin Hallet, of Barnsta- 
ble, Brother Daniel Sharp, of Newark, and 
other good brethren. After this, I visited 
some of Mr. Parkinson's people, and pre- 
sented my handbill. One gave me ten 
dollars, others five, &c. 

When the time came for the ministers 
and deacons to meet, I took care to be with 
them at the close of their meeting, and 
made inquiry respecting my case. One of 
the ministers remarked, they had taken my 
application under serious consideration, 
and considered it an important case, and 
were very sorry that it was not in their 
power to render my people some assist- 
ance. But their churches were poor, their 
rneeting-houses involved in debt, and they 
had been hard run with applications for as- 
sistance for poor churches in the back coun- 
try, and had concluded to attempt no more 



123 

collections for others, till thev had got their 
churches freed from their embarrassments. 
{ told them, I did not doubt but thev 
made a very honest plea ; but I thought I 
should obtain a generous collection among 
them. 1 was not begging for myself, but 
for the poor saints. I had been preaching 
constantly since I had been in the city, -diui 
expected to be generously rewarded. I 
calculated to leave the city next day, and to 
return in seven or eight weeks, w4ien i ex- 
pected to make application to their gener- 
osity w^th success. Beggars should be 
humble ; yet they must be bold and perse- 
vering, if they would expect to obtain. 
Well, said they, we do not blame you, get 
something*: if vou can. 

I went in company with Brother Daniel 
Sharp, to his house in Newark, N. J, 
Preached in his meeting-house, a beautiful 
edifice lately erected ; for the accomplish- 
ment of which, Brother Sharp had trav- 
elled and collected among his friends in the 
South ; but his people were in trouble, in 
consequence of the but too successful ef- 
forts of certain disorganizing preachers, in 
diffusino- a kind of Antinomian s)3irit, caus- 
ing a division among the people ; which 
was very discouraging to the pastor. I 
told him, that if he found he must leave 
that people, 1 had no doubt but the Third 
Baptist Church in Boston, would gladly re^ 



124 

ceive him as their pastor, as Rev. Caleb 
Blood was about to leave, for Portland. 

At the request of that people, he came 
to Boston, about the close of the year. 
From that time to the present, his labours 
have been owned and blessed to a numer- 
ous church and congregation. From New- 
ark I went to Brunswick, and w^as kindly 
entertained by Judge Runyon and his lady, 
excellent disciples. I preached in their 
meeting-house, received their bounty, and 
proceeded on without much delay till I ar- 
rived at Holmsburgh. Here I was kindly 
received by Deacon Thomas Holmes; vis- 
ited Dr. Samuel Jones, pastor of the Bap- 
tist church in lower Dublin, where Deacon 
Holmes belonged ; received encourage- 
ment of something when I returned ; left 
my horse and chaise wdth the good deacon, 
who conveyed me to the city of Philadel- 
phia, nine miles. I called on Dr. Rogers, 
who received me wdth Christian kindness, 
and told me that something would be col- 
lected for me, but I must call on Dr. 
Stoughton. He attended to my case with 
his usual affability and kindness. He said 
I might expect a generous contribution ; 
he would assist me what he could, but he 
was so situated that he should not be able 
to pay that particular attention to the sub- 
ject that he should be pleased to, as his 
people had commenced building a meeting- 
nouse in Sansum Street, which would cost 



125 

forty thousand dollars, and he had to beg 
the money to carry on the work. But Dr. 
Rogers was very well acquainted in the 
city, had many friends, and had no engage- 
ments to prevent his giving me all the as- 
sistance I needed ; and I could not have a 
better man for the business, and he would, 
he had no doubt, cheerfully lend me his 
aid. All which I found strictly true. The 
good old Dr. R. advertised my object in 
visiting the city, had the same particularly 
stated in four Baptist meeting-houses, and 
took me by the arm, from street to street, 
and from house to house, for about two 
weeks. I preached about every evening, 
and three times on the Sabbath in different 
meeting-houses. 

I left the city in the stage, and went to 
Wilmington, where I was kindly received 
by Elder Daniel Dodge, a native of Wood- 
stock, Vt. We soon became acquainted. 
His people had recently been favoured 
with a very precious work of grace. Af- 
ter I had delivered a sermon in his meet- 
ing-house, he stated my object, and inform- 
ed the people that I would call on some of 
the citizens the next day and receive their 
subscriptions. After which, he invited 
those who had lately been received into 
the church to pass round and speak with 
me at the foot of the pulpit stairs. They 
directly formed a procession through the 
aisles of the house and passed me in one di- 
11* 



120 

rection, gwing me an opportunity of tak- 
ing all by the hand and wishing them God 
speed on their heavenly course. I observ- 
ed to them that it would be a great wonder 
if they all obtained the crown of victory, 
and exhorted them to diiio:ence, watchful- 
ness and prayer. I do not recollect the 
number, perhaps forty-five, more or less, 
and nearly all in the bloom of youth. It 
was a delightful scene. The subscrip- 
tions amounted to ^130 44, which was 
great for that society. 

From Wilmington I took passage in a 
vessel to Newcastle ; then by stage to 
Frenchtown ; thence by water to Balti- 
more, and called on Elder Lewis Richards, 
pastor of the First Church, as soon as I ar- 
rived, and preached for him that evening. 
Brother Richards informed the people of 
my business, and wished them to be pre- 
pared for a liberal contribution next Sab- 
bath. Next day I went to see Brother 
John Healley, pastor of the Second Bap- 
tist Church, and preached to his people. 
He gave similar notice for a contribution 
next Sabbath. I then called on some of 
the wealthy and liberal, and received their 
individual subscriptions. An aged brother, 
Wilson, President of Baltimore bank, took 
my subscription book and after asking some 
questions, very cheerfully put down his 
name for fifty dollars. I spent the fore- 
noon of the Sabbath with the Second 



127 

Church, and the afternoon with the First 
Church. Amount of subscriptions and 
contributions, ^ 178 26. The pastors of 
these churches, and the members, appear- 
ed to be all made up of kindness. 

I returned to Philadelphia and finished 
my collections, amounting to the noble sum 
of ^770. I left this delightful city, and 
noble citizens, where I had spent about 
four weeks and preached thirty times ; 
gained an acquaintance with many eminent 
Christians and several excellent ministers ; 
received such attention and respect as I 
had not been accustomed to, beside their 
unexampled liberality to my afflicted peo- 
ple. With tears of gratitude I gave them 
the parting hand, wishing them the bless- 
ings of Heaven. 

1 took passage in a stage to Holmesburgh. 
The good Deacon Holmes had recruited my 
horse finely, made me welcome to the 
keeping, and went with me to Lower Dub- 
lin, where I preached that evening in Dr. 
Jones' pulpit. The contribution amount- 
ed to thirty-four dollars. Here I parted 
with my good brother, Deacon Gourly, 
who had kept my com.pany thus far from 
Philadelphia. 

As I passed through New Jersey, I vis- 
ited the Baptist church in Scotch- Plains ; 
called on Brother Brown, their pastor, an 
excellent young minister, but labouring 
under some discouragements. I preached 



128 

to his people, received their donations, and 
came to Brother Sharp's, in Newark ; tar- 
ried and preached to the people and receiv- 
ed their liberality. Next day I rode to 
the city of New York, August 9. As kind 
Providence had ordered, the ministers and 
deacons of several churches were met for 
consultation. When I entered their room 
they took me by the hand like loving 
brethren, and rejoiced in my safe return. 
Brethren Williams, Maclay and W^coff, 
began to solicit me to preach to their peo- 
ple that evening, the next Lord's day, &c. 
I told them I could not engage. " But, 
when are you going to leave the city?" 
" To-morrow morning, if I cannot obtain 
leave to beg." They consented that I 
might beg, and Brother Maclay would 
walk with me the next day ; and I con- 
sented to preach. We called on a number 
of friends in the course of the day, who 
contributed very cheerfully ; none refused 
on whom we called ; three ministers gave 
five dollars each. Deacon John Withing- 
ton walked with me one day. We called 
on Col. Rudgar, who cheerfully gave twen- 
ty dollars. I continued with them about 
five days, and collected ^235 50. 

I left the city on the 17th of August. 
My good Brother Withington and his lady 
were pleased to favour me with their com- 
pany as far as the town of Rye, where they 
introduced me to their Christian friends ; 



129 

to whom I preached and received their 
free-will offerings. Returned through 
New Haven, Westfield, Wollingford, Mid- 
dletown and Seabrook. 

From Seabrook I passed over the ferry 
to Lyme, where I spent the Sabbath with 
Elder Asa VVilcocks, and preached to the 
people of his charge, a respectable church 
and congregation in a prosperous state. 
Thence I rode to Stonington, and was 
kindly received by Elder Elisha Chese- 
brough ; preached to his kind people, who 
afterw^ards sent their donation to Newbu- 
ryport. I arrived on the Island of New- 
port, August 29 ; preached in three meet- 
ing-houses on the Sabbath, and received 
their liberal donations. 

While I staid in Newport, I was kindly 
entertained at the house of my beloved 
brother. Elder John Gibson, who, with his 
wife, were all kindness and affection. He 
told me that when he heard me preach at 
the widow Eldridge's, in Harwich, Cape 
Cod, in July, 1802, he was an Arminian 
Methodist preacher, and occupied a meet- 
ing-house near the widow Eldridge's ; and 
that the greater part of his people attend- 
ed the meeting. I took for my text, Titus 
iii. 5; ''Not by works of righteousness 
which we have done, but according to his 
mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost." The object of my discourse w^as 



130 

to show the gospel method of salvation, 
negatively and positively. 1st. Why are 
we not saved by works of righteousness 
which we have done? Because, first, our 
works are not perfect, as the law requires. 
If we ofl'ead in one point, we are guilty in 
ail. We have all sinned and are under the 
curse of the law. Therefore by the deeds 
of the law shall no flesh be justified. If 
ritj;hteousness could be obtained by the law, 
then Christ died in vain. But can we 
not be saved by works of righteousness in 
obedience to the gospel? What is gospel 
obedience ? Holy love, unfeigned faith, 
godly sorrow for sin, unreserved dedication 
of ourselves to the service of God. We 
cannot conceive of any thing short of this, 
being acceptable works of righteousness in 
obedience to the gospel ; but such works 
are scriptural evidences of being in a state 
of salvation, as being the genuine fruits 
and eflfects of a work of grace upon the 
heart, and therefore cannot be the cause of 
our salvation. Therefore as saith the text, 
Not by works of righteousness which we 
have done. 

We come now positively to show^ that 
salvation is obtained by, or according to the 
mercy of God, by the washing of regen- 
eration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

The mercy of God is manifested in the 
unspeakable gift of the Son of God to suf- 
fer and die for us ; to bear our sins in his 



131 

own body on the tree. The mercy of 
God is manifested in the work of the holy 
Spirit, in accomplishing the great work 
of moral purification by the washing of 
regeneration and renewing of the holy 
Ghost ; a glorious work of grace w^hich was 
never accomplished by any other agent. 
1 closed my illustrations in an experi- 
mental address to different classes of the 
audience, with freedom of thought and 
much tenderness of spirit. Elder Abner 
Lewis prayed, and the meeting was dis- 
missed. 

Mr. Gibson observed to the congregation 
as they were dismissed, that they had heard 
solemn truths from the stranger. He said 
he should not have spoken, in all respects, 
as the preacher had done ; but did not wish 
to enter into a dispute ; but would advise 
the people to gather the good and cast the 
bad away, lie told me that he was dis- 
pleased when I named the text, for he ex- 
pected I would attack his Arminian sys- 
tem ; and he felt during the sermon as if 
his foundation was shaken, and w^as appre- 
hensive his people would feel so too ; for, 
if this doctrine be true, his was not true. 
Therefore he thought proper to give the 
caution to *' gather the good and cast the 
bad away," thinking that he could rein- 
state himself in his former views when he 
should retire. But the more he read and 
meditated, the more he w^as convinced that 



132 

his former views of doctrine were unscrip- 
tural. At length he came to the conclu- 
sion that salvation is of grace, and not of 
w^orks, neither in whole or in part ; and 
when his Arminian plan was given up, he 
gave up infant sprinkling with it. He left 
the Methodist connection ; went to War- 
ren, R. I. and was baptized by Elder Lu- 
ther Baker ; was approbated and set apart 
as a regular minister of Christ, in our de- 
nomination, and continued to be respected 
as a consistent free-grace Baptist minister, 
for twenty-seven years, till the day of his 
death, about the first of the year, 1831. 

Having finished my collections in New^- 
port, I hastened to Providence, and found 
the liberal minded citizens of this ancient 
Baptist town ready and willing to con- 
tribute of their abundance to the relief of 
my afflicted people. I preached on the 
Sabbath to the first and second churches. 
They had public contributions in both 
churches, which, together with their gen- 
erous private subscriptions, amounted to 
one hundred and forty dollars. 

I now hastened to Boston, to attend the 
Boston Baptist Association, at their for- 
mation. Here I met my dear daughter 
Ploomy, in good health. Thanks to God 
for preserving Mercy. We enjoyed a 
precious season in the Association, hav- 
ino; verv encouraa-ins: intellio-ence from the 
churches. It did my heart good to hear 



133 

the preaching and witness the union of ef- 
fort for the advancement of the kingdom 
of Christ. 

In my journey I had discovered a want 
of union among churches and ministers, 
which led me to appreciate, more highly 
than ever before, the love, peace and har- 
mony which has ever marked the progress 
of the churches in this region. 

From this happy meeting, I went in 
company with my daughter and others to 
Newburyport ; deposited my money in the 
bank for safe keeping ; spent one Sabbath 
with my people ; took my -daughter with 
me and w^ent to Portland, in company with 
my beloved brother. Elder Elisha Wil- 
liams, and daughter ; left my daughter in 
Portland, and pursued my journey to 
Brunswick, w^here we were kindly receiv- 
ed. Brother Williams and myself preach- 
ed on the Sabbath, by the request of Elder 
Benjamin Titcom, the beloved pastor of 
the church. Leaving this place, I rode to 
Hallowell, on Kennebeck-river, preached 
to the people, and went to Redfield, where 
I met the Bowdoinham Association. I was 
invited to preach, and had leave to state 
the circumstances of my afflicted people, 
and distribute mv handbills, which receiv- 
ed attention. ^ 

I then returned to North Yarmouth, "♦ 
where I met with the Cumberland Asso- 
ciation, and had opportunit}^ to make my 
12 



134 

communications in behalf of my people. 
Many felt much for the sufferers who were 
unable to grant pecuniary aid. Elder Ca- 
leb Blood delivered an interesting sermon. 
With him I had been long acquainted, and 
highly esteemed him as an able and faith- 
ful minister of Christ. But when Elder 
Thomas Green addressed the throne of 
grace in humble prayer, my very soul was 
melted within me. I wept with holy joy; 
it seemed as though Heaven had come 
down to earth, and that the house was full 
of the glory of the Lord. I had not seen 
him for about fifteen years, and it affected 
me to see that he was growing old. 

I spent a Sabbath in Portland with 
Brother Blood and his people, took my 
daughter and returned to Newburyport, 
glad to be released from the fatigues and 
anxieties 6f journeying from place to place. 



^ 



-h 



CHAPTER VIII. 



I RECEIVED liberal donations from a 
number of the Eastern churches, but I am 
unable to state the amount. 1 delivered 
the money that I had collected, to the 
Treasurer of the church and society, and 
took his receipt, to the amount of two 
thousand dollars, exclusive of all expenses. 
About the last of October I hired a 
house in Olive Street, collected vrhat fur- 
niture we had saved from the ravages of 
the fire, and commenced house-keeping 
with my daughter. 

Now we began to consult on the subject 
of building a meeting-hou«e. The first 
thing was to agree on a site for the build- 
ing. The old lot, with all the ruins there- 
on, belonged to the first proprietors. Ap- 
prehending there would be a difference of 
opinion as to what part of the town the 
house should be built, a meeting of the 
church was first called ; a committee of 
three was appointed to circulate subscrip- 
tion papers ; one of which was directed to 
obtain subscribers for building in the cen- B^ 
tre of the town, one for the South part, 
and one for the North part. Adjourned 



136 

for one week ; then met to hear the report 
of the committee ; when it appeared, that 
for building in the centre of the town no 
subscription could be obtained ; for build- 
ing at the South-end, one man subscribed 
fifteen dollars; for building at the Nokh 
part of the town, near Olive Street, "fiHe 
hundred dollars had been subscribed. 

We then agreed to request a society 
meeting, and submit the location to the de- 
cision of the meeting when church and 
society should convene together, as the 
money had been collected by their united 
direction ; and as the society included the 
church, and was so incorporated, such a 
meeting would be legal. As a prudential 
step, one of our deacons had, by private 
contract, secured an eligible lot near Olive 
Street. At the society meeting sixty vo- 
ters out of seventy were in favour of said 
lot. Thus the matter was settled. Some 
were dissatisfied, and we had serious diffi- 
culties to encounter. But, on calculating 
the travel of all who belonged to the meet- 
ing, it appeared that the lot selected was 
very near central. 

A plan for buikling the meeting-house 
fifty feet by forty-two, with gallery, was 
approved ; a building committee appointed, 
and the work was commenced in April, 
1812. But sometime before this, we had a 
difficulty of another kind. It had been in- 
sinuated that the proprietors of the first 



137 

house would claim the mone}'^ I had obtain- 
ed to indemnify their loss. At length a 
respectable committee called on me, and 
presented an order, authorized by the pro- 
prietors, directing me to pay to A. B. C. 
committee, &c. the monies that I had re- 
ceived by donations, that the same might 
be divided among the proprietors, accord- 
ing to their several losses, &c. I remark- 
ed to the committee that I had not been 
authorized by the proprietors to solicit any 
donations for them, and have received none, 
and had none for them. And gave them an 
answer to their order in writing, of like 
import. 

I consulted with our benefactors in other 
towns on this difficult subject. Some ad- 
vised us to offer them the money, on con- 
dition that the proprietors would rebuild 
the house. Others advised that we have 
nothing to do with the proprietors. But, 
to satisfy all parties as far as possible, the 
church chose a committee, which attended 
a proprietor's meeting, and proposed to pay 
over to the proprietors the funds we had 
on hand, providing they would rebuild the 
house. This proposal was rejected. The 
church owned about two thousand dollars 
worth of pews in the first meeting-house, 
for which nothing was received. The land 
with the basement storv, bricks, &c. were 
all sold for the benefit of the original pro- 
prietors. Some years after this, one of 
12* 



138 

the proprietors commenced a civil process 
against the society, but lost his case, and 
thus the matter ended. I have been thus 
particular, wishing to give satisfaction to all 
concerned. 

After the building w^as commenced, I 
called on Dr. Bolles' society, in Salem, and 
received their very noble subscription, 
amounting to ^440 17. I continued to 
collect in Newburyport and neighbouring 
towns, as I had opportunity, till the house 
was completed, about the last of July, hav- 
ing been about fourteen weeks in building. 
The cost of the house and land was some- 
thing less than four thousand dollars. 

Without parade the house was dedicated 
to the service of God, with fervent sup- 
plications for the divine blessing on the 
church, congregation, the word which shall 
be dispensed there, and on our kind bene- 
factors. 

The society have never sold the pews, 
but assessed six hundred dollars annual tax 
on them, and offered them for rent. The 
society were now in debt for the house 
something less than four hundred dollars, 
which was hired, and security given on the 
meeting-house. 

It may be said that this house was built 
in troublous times. In addition to the 
difficulties which have been mentioned, a 
great national calamity now took place. 
Within a few days from the time that our 



139 

meeting-house was finished, war was declar- 
ed between our nation and Great Britain. 

As a church we were troubled on 
another account. Several members of the 
church had separated from us, being dissat- 
isfied with the location of the meetinsr- 
house. By the request of the church, an 
ecclesiastical counsel met with us from the 
churches in Haverhill, Newtown, Danvers, 
Beverly and Salem. After hearing all that 
the offended members had to offer in de- 
fence of their separation, the counsel unan- 
imously decided that the proceedings of 
the church and society, in regard to the 
meeting-house, were regular and consist- 
ent ; and with tenderness, and in the most 
affectionate manner, exhorted the disaffect- 
ed members to return to their place. And 
their labours were not in vain. Three of 
the members present acknowledged their 
fault at the time and were restored, and 
others soon after. The church was now 
blessed with peace and harmony, and our 
prospects were in some respects encour- 
aging. Prayer meetings revived, a con- 
siderable number of young people brought 
to the knowledge of the truth, and were 
received by baptism. I now felt myself 
under great obligation to praise and adore 
the God of all grace for the success which 
had attended the efforts that had been made 
to re-establish the church and congregation 
in a place of worship. I had no other 



140 

thought but to spend the remainder of my 
days with this people, who had been prin- 
cipally collected under my poor labours, 
and were very dear to me. 

The people of other societies were more 
cordial than they had been. Some of them 
contributed generously toward our meet- 
ing-house. Under these circumstances I 
was impressed with a sense of my respon- 
sibility, and desired to devote myself un- 
reservedly to the service of my Lord and 
Master. 

For more than one year after the death 
of my dear wife, the thought of a second 
marriage had occupied my mind very lit- 
tle. I could think of no one person more 
than another w^ith w^hom I could feel will- 
ing to be associated in this relation, till I 
was informed of the death of my respect- 
ed friend, Mr. Samuel Chamberlin, of Bos- 
ton. This put me upon thought of the 
widow. I had been some acquainted with 
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin. My son had 
lived in the family as an assistant in the 
store. One of my daughters was sick and 
died in their house. We had been favour- 
ed with a good understanding between the 
two families, but it was a subject I could 
talk but little of to any one. I had one 
friend whom I had been in the habit of 
consulting in difficult cases. Dr. Baldwin 
was at this time in a lonely state, having 
been called to part with his loving wife five 



141 

or six months before. I ventured to in- 
quire of him concerning the widow Cham- 
berlin, who was a member of his church. 
He spoke favourably of the widow. After 
this 1 had occasion to go frequently to Bos- 
ton to collect money, get furniture for our 
meeting-house, &c. In short, the negotia- 
tion was so conducted that none of my 
good friends in Newburyport had any 
knowledge or suspicion of the concern till 
the town clerk got the intelligence and 
made it public. We were married August 
25, 1812. My daughter was married the 
next month, to Mr. Abijah Wheeler. Hav- 
ing obtained a comfortable dwelling near 
our meeting-house, I was comfortably set- 
tled once more in domestic life. 

In many respects our prospects were en- 
couraging ; but the war raged, which caus- 
ed great distress to the inhabitants of New- 
buryport. The total stagnation of every 
branch of business caused a large portion 
of our active young men to fly to other 
parts of the country to seek employment. 

Our meeting-house was soon filled with 
attentive hearers, and frequent additions 
were made to the church. But under ex- 
isting circumstances, my people were able 
to do but very little for my support. Dur- 
ing the hard struggle we passed through, I 
had expended all I had when I came to 
Newburyport, about seven hundred dol- 
lars. Still I felt disposed to continue my 



142 

feeble labours with this afflicted people, 
and trust Divine Providence. 

The destitute situation of several towns 
in the county of Rockingham, N. H. led me 
to comply with the request of the people 
to visit and dispense the word of life to 
them, and to administer the ordinances. In 
some of these places a divine blessing at- 
tended the word ; I baptized a considera- 
ble number at different times in Exeter, 
who united with the Baptist church in that 
town. I assisted in constituting a church 
in Deerfield, and gathered a Baptist socie- 
ty in Chester, both which have prospered. 
These little excursions into the country, in 
which I was absent four or five days at a 
time, interrupted my studies. This was 
matter of regret, as 1 had been absent a 
considerable part of the time since the de- 
structive fire, and had made considerable 
addition to my little stock of books. 

But my attention was now taken up with 
new publications. A very warm dispute 
existed among Congregational ministers. 
Formerly they had all professed to be unit- 
ed, Calvinists, Hopkintians, Arminians and 
Socenians, forming one grand convention, 
comprising all the Congregational minis- 
ters in the State of Massachusetts. But at 
length their discordant sentiments appear- 
ed in public view, particularly relating to 
the doctrine of the Trinity. One party 
denominated themselves Unitarians ; the 



143 

other, Orthodox. Sometimes Unitarians 
styled themselves Rational Christians ; in- 
timating that it was peculiar to them to be- 
lieve in one God, and that they only were 
rational Christians. Some of these writers 
laboured to prove that our Lord Jesus 
Christ was but a mere man, and even 
doubted his pre-existence, and the vicari- 
ous satisfaction of his death upon the cross. 
Another class of these writers would ad- 
mit of the pre-existence of our Lord, and 
that he existed before all worlds, even in 
the beginning ; and that by him the worlds 
were made ; that he did partake of the Di- 
vine nature, and is a Divine person ; and so 
is entitled to the worship of saints and an- 
gels; but 3^et is not equal with the Father; 
but had a beginning ; has derived his exist- 
ence from his Father, and is therefore limit- 
ed and dependent ; yet is to be worshiped ! 
These writers too claim the appellation of 
Unitarians. But how can this be '] They 
worship at least two divine beings; one 
self-existent and eternal ; the other has but 
a derived existence, and is dependent. 
Whether they are entitled to the exclusive 
appellation of rational Christians, let those 
who possess the power of reason judge. 

When the contention commenced there 
were but few Calvinistic Orthodox Con- 
gregational churches in Boston or vicinity. 
But a division took place, and Orthodox 
churches have been constituted in Boston, 



144 

and through this and the neighbouring 
States, to a great extent. Thus evangelical 
truth has been promoted. 

This dispute had very little effect on 
any of our churches, no one of them chang- 
ed their ground, to my knowledge, in ail 
the Eastern States. Two or three preach- 
ers were seduced by error, and disowned 
by the churches. 

During the war the people of Newbury- 
port were frequently alarmed by the ene- 
my's vessels hovering on our shores. Gov- 
ernment vessels were stationed in our har- 
bour to guard the town. The labouring 
part of the community were reduced to 
great straits for want of profitable employ- 
ment. 

The attention of the people of our socie- 
ty to the great concerns of eternity, which 
appeared encouraging a year ago, still con- 
tinued. A considerable number were ad- 
ded to the church, which was cheering to 
our hearts. 

After the fire, the church was considera- 
bly diminished by removals, deaths and 
other ways. But this year it increased to 
its former number or more. Notwithstand- 
ing the unpleasant circumstances attending 
the war, we had many mercies which de- 
manded our humble gratitude. We were 
favoured with health, and had peace and 
harmony among ourselves. When we took 
a retrospective view of the scenes of deso- 



145 

lation we had passed through, and compar- 
ed the present with the past, we were con- 
strained to exclaim with adoring gratitude, 
*' God hath done great things for us, where- 
of we are glad." While a dark cloud was 
spread over the political horizon of our na- 
tion, there were some favourable events 
which raised cheering hopes that this dis- 
tressing war might speedily be brought to 
a favourable termination. 

The unexpected success of our valiant 
little navy in capturing the enemy's arm- 
ed vessels on the high seas, astonished the 
world ! And the victories won upon the 
Lakes were hailed with joyful surprise ! 
A large army of the enemy on the West 
of Champlain, in the State of New York, 
were compelled to retreat into Canada be- 
fore our valiant militia ; and another army 
was compelled to leave Baltimore in haste, 
embark on board their shipping and hurry 
away, leaving many upon the ground. 
These events tended to unite and encour- 
age the defenders of our national rights. 

But whatever may be the event of na- 
tional contests, we are sure that our King 
shall reign and prosper. His kingdom 
shall spread from sea to sea, and fill the 
earth. 

A young man by the name of Benjamin 
Lane, a native of New bury port, and an 
apprentice to our esteemed brother, Rob- 
ert Robinson, who removed to Lynn after 
13 



146 

the fire, professed a gracious change and 
united with the Baptist church in Salem, 
of which Dr. Bolles was pastor. He after- 
wards removed his connection and was re- 
ceived a member of the Baptist church in 
Newburyport, and soon after licensed as a 
candidate for the ministry. He spent some 
time in the school under the care of Dr. 
Chaplin, in Danvers ; afterwards married a 
daughter of Ekler Elliot, of Mason, and 
went to the West. He possessed some 
romising gifts for usefulness. But I have 
leard nothing of him. for several years. 

Mrs. Peak went with me to Barnstable, 
to see my children, where we found some- 
thing of a revival among the people ; but 
they were much affiicted by the war. For 
their resources, their dependence was al- 
most wholly on fishing and coasting ; and 
the enemy had possession of the Islands of 
Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard ; had 
landed at Bass river, five miles from Hyan- 
nis, and some other places on the Cape ; 
and demanded large sums of money of the 
inhabitants; so that, beside suffering great 
privations by the war, they were in con- 
stant fear. At length, January, 1814, the 
heart-stirrins: news arrived of Jackson's 
gi*eat victory at ISew Orleans; and soon 
after the glad tidings of peace. Some dif- 
ference of opinion had existed among our 
fellow citizens in regard to the declaration 
of war, and some attached blame to our ru- 



147 

lers. But after the news of peace was con- 
firmed, all parties were disposed to culti- 
vate friendship, forgetting iormer dissen- 
tions. All were upon the a-ert to engage 
in different kinds of business. Some too 
hastily engaged in speculations which turn- 
ed out to their disadvantage. Failures in 
trade were common. 

I had a demand against a gentleman in 
the county of Barnstable for nearly five 
hundred dollars, Avho was considered to be 
wealthy ; and I was daily expecting to re- 
ceive a payment, when I received his let- 
ter informing me that his creditors had 
broke upon him and taken possession of all 
his property ; and he was sorry to say there 
was nothing left for me to the amount of 
five dollars. After some years I gave up 
his notes, upon receiving less than the in- 
terest due on the principal. This, with 
other losses of a similar nature, reduced me 
to penury. I had nothing left but house- 
hold furniture and books. My horse and 
carriage would not amount to more than 
my debts. M}^ people were less able to 
give me a support than they were the year 
before. As there was no encouragement 
for mechanics in town, our young men con- 
tinued to migrate to different parts of the 
country for employment ; but the infirm 
and dependent mostly remained with us. 
Under these circumstances, our prospects 
in a pecuniary point of view, were discour- 



148 

aging. Mr. Abijah Wheeler left the town, 
with his family, in October, 1814, and went 
to Troj, N. Y. This was trying to our 
feelings beyond description, having lived 
in near neighbourhood ever since they were 
married. They were kind and attentive 
to us indeed ; they were slmost every thing 
we could wish in children ; and dear little 
Julia Ann, now fifteen months old, had 
very much engrossed our affections. He 
was in the grocery line, and was thought to 
be doing as well as others with a small cap- 
ital ; but he concluded he could do busi- 
ness to better profit in Troy, and has pros- 
pered very well. He had been quite a 
benefactor to our society. Besides aiding 
in a pecuniary w^ay, he served as clerk of 
the society, and led the singing in public 
worship to great satisfaction. When they 
came to take their leave of us I had not 
fortitude enough to conceal my tender feel- 
ings. I endeavoured to commit them to 
the protection of our heavenly Father ; 
imploring his blessing upon them. 

Now another trying case must be record- 
ed. I have mentioned that the society, 
when the meeting-house was finished, hir- 
ed from three to four hundred dollars to 
settle the bills. The money was called 
for. In November, 1815, one of the socie- 
ty's committee came to me, saying that 
they had received a letter from a lawyer, 
requesting the payment of the money due 



149 

from the society, to Mr. M., and appeared 
to be alarmed, apprehending that their pri- 
vate property might be attached to secure 
the society's debts. I endeavoured to quiet 
his fears, and went to see Mr. M. I asked 
him whether he was in want of money? 
He very pleasantly replied, " no more 
than common, but did not like his security; 
it was unpleasant to hold a mortgage on a 
meeting-house ; if he had good men's notes 
and the interest paid regularly, he would 
let it lie." I requested him to suspend 
the matter for a few days, and I would in- 
form him w^hether any thing was likely to 
be done. He readily consented. A meet- 
ing was called ; but no possible plan could 
be devised to raise the money, unless the 
pastor would undertake another journey 
and beg it. This was an unpleasant task 
in the cold season ; and I knew not where 
to go for help but to the same people who 
had given liberally for the same object al- 
ready. It was thought that the money 
might be advanced by individuals within 
the bounds of Newbury and Newburyport, 
without injuring themselves, families or 
creditors, if they were willing. But no 
method could be thought of to make them 
willing. 

Rev. Edmund Reice, the pastor of one 

of the Baptist churches in Baltimore, had 

some time before this been with us about 

ten days, and preached about as many ser- 

13* 



150 

mons to our great satisfaction, while wait- 
ing for a passage to St. Johns by water. 
He, learning the circumstances of the debt 
on our meeting-house, advised and urged 
me to come to Baltimore, for he had no 
doubt but that I should get the money. 
But that was five hundred miles distant ; 
and yet I could not expect to raise the sum 
short of that. I left it with the people to 
obtain preaching in my absence and sat out 
on the fifth of December, 1815. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Went to Barnstable and spent one Sab- 
bath, and collected about thirty dollars. 
The next Sabbath I spent with Brother J. 
Grafton, in Newton ; received a trifle. On 
Monday evening I arrived in Worcester, 
spent the night with my good brother J. 
Going. The next night I put up at a tav- 
ern in Westown, but was much bewildered 
in the darkness of the evening before I_ 
found a shelter. The next day I arrived 
in Belchertown, and put up with Brother 
Peas, pastor of the Baptist church in that 
place, and preached in the evening. Next 
day, Thursday, I arrived in Goshen, 
preached at a tavern kept by a Brother 
Williams, who, with his wife, belonged to 
the Baptist church in that town, of which 
Elder Hubbard was pastor, and was at the 
meeting. I was happy in the short ac- 
quaintance I formed with him and his peo- 
ple. He has since that time preached 
on Martha's Vineyard and at Middlebu- 
ry, but is now with his beloved people in 
Goshen. 

Here I shall record a marvellous thing. 
After I had delivered my sermon, in which 



152 

I enjoyed freedom, Brother Hubbard spoke 
and prayed. At the close of the meeting 
sister Williams, the lady of the house, ad- 
dressed the people in the following manner : 
" My friends and neighbours, permit me to 
say to you, that my dream has come to pass. 
Some weeks since I dreamed that the pas- 
tor of the church which lately lost their 
meeting-house by the great fire in Newbu- 
ryport, came here and preached a sermon 
in our house, greatly to my edification and 
comfort. I consider it nothing but a dream, 
and perhaps I should not have mentioned 
it at this time, if I had not told my dream 
before to some persons now present. I 
might have forgotten it but for the comfort 
I enjoyed in my dream, which continued 
many days," &c. 

I know not how the good woman came 
to dream, as it appears she did, for her sto- 
ry was confirmed by those present who 
had heard it before. I had seen Brother 
Hubbard some years before, but knew not 
where he was, nor any thing of the people 
in Goshen, till I was informed by Brother 
Peas, in Belchertown, the day before. It 
is said by Elihu, Job xxxiii. 14, "God 
speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man per- 
ceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of 
the night," &c. Alas there are many who 
appear not to perceive that God is speak- 
ing to them in his holy word, even when 
they are literally awake. But it is said of 



153 

such, " They are like the deaf adder that 
stoppeth her ear." Psalm Iviii. 4. 

Friday, Dec. 22, left these kind friends 
and rode to Windsor, called on Brother 
Asa Niles, who resided in that town, and 
preached to a small sosiety. 1 addressed 
the people in the evening in a school- 
house. Next day rode to Cheshire, where 
I preached to the people three times on 
the Sabbath. They had a decent meeting- 
house, but no minister. They cheerfully 
contributed to the object of my mission. 
On Monday, the 25th, rode to Sand-lake ; 
on Tuesday noon arrived at Mr. Abijah 
Wheeler's, in Watervliet or W'est Troy, 
and found my children and grand children 
in good health. 1 spent about two weeks 
very pleasantly in this region ; preached in 
Troy, Lansingburg and Albany, and re- 
ceived about fifty dollars. On the 9th of 
January preached to the Baptist church in 
Albany. My daughter and her husband 
were present. They returned to Water- 
vliet that evening. 

Monday, January 10, set out from Alba- 
ny for the city of New York, with a horse 
and chaise. The snow was about one foot 
deep, and the w^eather extremely cold. I 
was careful to guard myself against the 
cold, but the frost touched my face in three 
places, so as to peel after a few days, and 
was very tender during the cold season. 
When I arrived at the high lands there fell 



154 

a snow about two feet deep, so that there 
was no passing for one day. After being 
detained two nights at a tavern, I moved 
slowly on, but found it difficult with my 
wheels. As I proceeded the travelling be- 
came better, so that I reached Peekskill on 
Saturday, and kept Sabbath with a Presby- 
terian minister, and preached three times 
in his pulpit. He was a young man of 
good accomplishments and apparent piety. 
His people made a small collection. 

In Poughkeepsie I preached and receiv- 
ed a trifle. I was uetained two days in 
Mount Pleasant by a great rain ; preached 
and received a small donation. The next 
Sabbath I preached in the city of New 
York, and stayed there about three days ; 
passed through the State of New Jersey 
and arrived at Deacon Thomas Holmes', in 
Holmesburg, on Friday morning. Here I 
was introduced to Elder Jacob Griggs, pas- 
tor of the church in Lower Dublin, an ex- 
cellent brother. He advised me to go as 
far as the State of Virginia, where he had 
preached several years and was well ac- 
quainted. He gave me a letter of intro- 
duction to Elder Robert B. Semple, of 
Brewington. Here I left my horse with 
good Deacon Holmes, took stage and arriv- 
ed in the city of Philadelphia on Saturday 
evening. 

On Sabbath forenoon heard Dr. H. Hol- 
come preach on the infinite fullness of the 



155 

Saviour. By his request I preached in the 
afternoon from John, i. 16. "And of his 
fulhiess have all we received, and grace for 
grace." The doctor took a seat in a pew. 
As soon as I had closed my sermon, he rose 
and complimented the preacher and ser- 
mon in a style most extravagant, such as I 
had never heard before, and would never 
wish to hear. By the invitation of Deacon 
Sheelds I spent the night with him, he 
gave me ten dollars. I took the stage and 
rode to Baltimore. Here I tarried two 
weeks. Brother E. Reice enorag-ed me to 
supply his pulpit, and was absent two 
Lord's-days. After he returned I had 
some conversation with him on the subject 
of my mission. He said he was afraid to 
mention the case to his people, for they 
had just commenced building a large meet- 
ing-house which would cost about forty 
thousand dollars ; and they had the greater 
part of it to collect of individuals. About 
this time Elder John Brice arrived in the 
city, from Richmond, Va. who very affec- 
tionately invited me to go to Virginia, and 
encouraged me to hope for success. 

About the first of February, I rode to 
Washington, where I tarried several days 
and received thirty dollars. I tarried in 
Alexandria over the Sabbath. In Freder- 
icksburg I was overtaken by Elder Brice. 
We took the stage in company early in the 
morning, and arrived at Brother Brice's 



156 

house in the evening, seventy miles. Here 
I laboured ten days in travelling from one 
part to another of this extensive city ; col- 
lected one hundred and thirty-three dol- 
lars, and preached about ten times. 

From Richmond I went to Hanover, 
Brewington, Salem and Providence, and 
collected about seventy-six dollars. The 
hospitality of the Virginian Baptists ex- 
ceeded any thing I had experienced; I rode 
about one hundred miles without expense ; 
and their attention to my poor preaching 
was beyond what I had ever met with. 
The churches that I visited were very 
large. In the church in Richmond, I was 
told, were fifteen hundred members; elev- 
en hundred of them coloured people. In 
Brewington I attended a communion sea- 
son in company with Brother R. Semple, 
pastor, and two other ministers. When 
we arrived at the poor unsightly meeting- 
house, in the midst of a grove of pitch 
pines, there were several hundreds of gen- 
tlemen and ladies walking among the trees. 
As we entered the house I perceived that 
every seat was occupied except the pulpit ; 
the seats were moveable benches ; a pale 
fence ran through the house to separate the 
white from the coloured people. The peo- 
ple in the grove soon stepped into their 
coaches and rode away. After eleven 
o'clock we commenced worship. When I 
had preached, to which the people gave 



157 

great attention, the pastor addressed the 
people on the subject of the holy com- 
munion in a very appropriate, instructive 
and solemn manner. I did not perceive 
that any of the assembly left their seats, 
but all appeared to partake of the holy or- 
dinance, about four hundred. Thus ended 
the public services of the day. In four 
weeks they would expect their pastor to 
visit them again in like manner, for he had 
the pastoral care of four churches; so that 
ordinarily each church would hear twelve 
or thirteen sermons in a year, and pay the 
minister no salary. 

On Monday I attended a funeral service 
with Brother Semple, which appeared sin- 
gular to me. They are not in the habit of 
sending for the pastor at the time of bury- 
ing the dead, but wait till he comes in his 
turn to their church. They either fill, or 
half fill the grave. If but half filled, when 
the pastor arrives, they form a procession 
and move to the grave, attend prayer, &c. 
We had about five miles to ride. When we 
arrived a very large assembly had collect- 
ed, and Mr. Semple was informed that the 
grave w^as filled. Then, said he, we have 
nothing to do but to attend worship ; and 
w^e both preached without intermission. 

I should have mentioned that the com- 
munion was administered in the most hum- 
ble style, the cups and plates were crocke- 
14 



158 

ry. And in their families they study neat- 
ness, plainness and economy. I had op- 
portunity of forming a short personal ac- 
quaintance with a large number of the Bap- 
tist Christians in Virginia, and entertain a 
very high opinion of their devotion, exem- 
plary piety and consistency of character. 
I believe that the greater part of our breth- 
ren would cheerfully free their slaves, if 
they knew how it could be done with 
safetv. 

My highly esteemed friend and brother, 
Robert B. Semple, left me with James 
Webb, Esq., States Attorney General, and 
a beloved brother in the Baptist church of 
King and Queen county. He w^as near 
seventy years of age. He took me into his 
carriage, with his lady, and conveyed me 
to Upper King and Queen, fifteen miles, 
where I preached at twelve o'clock, 5th of 
March, to a large assembly, who were deep- 
ly impressed under the word. We had a 
pleasant ride, and some interesting conver- 
sation. He lamented the evils of slavery 
in a religious, moral and civil point of 
view ; but did not know how the desired 
reform could be effected. He said they 
were in great want of good schools, col- 
leges and academies ; and especially they 
needed more ministers, who were men of 
talents, learning and piety, who would de- 
vote themselves to their calling. They 
needed information and a disposition, he 



159 

said, to adopt some proper method of giv- 
ing ministers a regular support, &c. 

After he pointed out to me where a num- 
ber of Baptist brethren lived, I asked him 
where the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, 
Methodists, &c. lived? No where here, 
said he, there is no meeting kept up with- 
in thirty miles of this place, but by the 
Baptists. I will show you, said he, an 
Episcopalian church directly. We soon 
came in sight of the ruins of an old brick 
meeting-house ; the walls of which were 
fallen to within a few feet of the ground ; 
in the midst of it stood a wild poplar tree, 
forty feet high. He gave a brief history of 
their downfall. Before the reformation, 
five years ago, said he, there were a num- 
ber of Methodist meetings kept up in this 
region, but in that revival they fell in with 
the Baptists. 

I preached next day in Providence meet- 
ing house. The next day I arrived and 
dispensed the word to an assembly in Col. 
Todd's tavern, in Caroline county. The 
next day, Saturday, Brother Todd sent his 
servant with a carriage to convey me to 
Fredericksburgh. Here I spent the Sab- 
bath and received the kind attention of 
Brother Alexander Walker and lady, with 
whom I had tarried and preached a few 
days before I went to Richmond. I cherish 
an affectionate remembrance of these kind 
friends. The amount received was ^ 32. 



160 

Returned to Alexandria. Here I saw 
about twenty of our Newburyport friends 
who had come to this city since the con- 
flagration. The collection amounted to 
thirty-one dollars thirty-six cents. From 
this city I went to Georgetown in a horse 
boat. 

I had preached in the city of Washing- 
ton, in Brother O. B. Brown's pulpit, by 
the request of Brother S. H. Cone, who 
was at that time chaplain to Congress, and 
he had appointed to preach that evening. 
On my return I arrived just in season to 
attend Brother Cone's weekly lecture. He 
urged me to preach, saying he had taken 
cold and was not well, &c. I told him that 
a pulpit sweat might do him good. He 
preached much to my satisfaction. 

I received of the friends in Washington 
thirty dollars. Now I had several hundred 
dollars of Southern paper on which there 
would be ten or twelve per cent, discount 
if I carried it to Massachusetts ; therefore 
I consulted Capt. John Peabody, of George- 
town, formerly of Newburyport, and en- 
gaged him to lay it out in flour, get it in- 
sured and consign it to Mr. Henry Mer- 
rill, of Newburyport. On which I gained 
something besides saving the per centage, 
freight and insurance. 

When I arrived in Baltimore, Brother 
Reice wished me to preach to his people 
the next Sabbath. 1 took lodgings with 



161 

my belovxd Brother Lewis Richards, the 
senior pastor of the first church, and a part 
of the time with Deacon Carnehan ; and 
kinder friends I never knew than I found 
in Baltimore. 

While I was in the city, Dr. Stoughton 
and several other ministering brethren ar- 
rived. By invitation all the Baptist min- 
isters in the city took breakfast with our 
respected Brother Wilson. W^hile we 
were at the table some one spoke of my 
making a collection in the city. Brother 
Reice, to intrench himself, or please his 
friends, said to me, " If you attempt to 
make a collection I will oppose you." I 
asked the brethren, what I ought to do with 
this little man ; he had been to Newbury- 
port, became acquainted with my people, 
and understood that our meeting-house was 
under a mortgage and the people were un- 
able to redeem it. He advised, and even 
urged me to come to Baltimore, and said he 
had no doubt but that I would receive 
enough to redeem the meeting-house. By 
his advice I have come and you hear what 
he says. This caused a smile and nothing 
more was said. Brother Reice left the city 
to preach to some destitute people, and I 
staid two weeks, and collected one hundred 
and thirty-six dollars seventy-four cents ; 
left my kind friends in a steam-boat ; stop- 
ped at Wilmington, March 28, and receiv* 
14* 



162 

ed a collection which had been made, a- 
mounting to thirty eight dollars twenty- 
five cents. 

The next Lord's-day I was in Lower 
Dublin. The first Lord's-day in April I 
preached in New York, and the next Sab- 
bath I preached near Strafford Springs, in 
Connecticut, and on the 17th of April 1 ar- 
rived at my habitation in Newburyport, and 
found my family in good health. Thanks 
be to our heavenly Benefactor for his pre- 
serving goodness. 



CHAPTER X. 

With the avails of my tour to the 
South, after deducting my expenses and 
compensation for my time, and all the ar- 
rearages due to me for past services, I took 
up the mortgage on the meeting-house and 
wholly cleared the society from debt. I 
then told the society, that as they had as- 
sessed six hundred dollars on the pews, 
which were nearly all occupied, if they 
would engage to pay me four hundred dol- 
lars per year, I would have no further 
claim on them. 

This I expected they would do, although 
I cannot say that they made any formal en- 
gagement to comply with the proposition. 
Thus the subject rested. When the col- 
lector received any money for pew rent, 
he punctually paid it to me on receipt. 

I continued to baptize till the summer of 
1813, when I became so debilitated in my 
limbs that I thought it prudent to desist 
from the practice, but not from the princi- 
ple. It is such a bright emblem of the 
resurrection of the dead, and especially of 
the death, burial and resurrection of our 
blessed Lord and Saviour, that it has uni- 



164 

formly been a very precious ordinance to 
me, whatever others may think of it. 

Before my house was burned, I had a 
catalogue of all whom I had baptized, with 
the names of the people and the towns. 
But now I cannot state the number partic- 
ularly; I think however, that I have baptiz- 
ed more than one thousand, in the States 
of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massa- 
chusetts. Some, undoubtedly, became 
apostates, but I hope a greater number 
have proved themselves faithful and suc- 
cessful ministers of the gospel of Christ. 

After my return from Virginia, in 1816, 
I had but a small income ; had I not re- 
ceived assistance from my country friends, 
where I made short tours, dispensing the 
word, I could not have staid with my peo- 
ple so long as I did. Great credit is due 
to the collector and treasurer, Mr. J. C, 
who was indefati2:able in his endeavours to 
collect the dues on the pews ; but he was 
able to collect but a part. 

In January, 1818, by my request, the 
committee met at my house, and I disclosed 
to them the state of my affairs and request- 
ed them to favour me with their best ad- 
vice. They were kind and sympathising, 
and agreed to deliberate on the subject and 
give me the result. I saw the chairman of 
the committee a few days after, who told 
me that they had consulted on the subject, 
and concluded that the case was so difficult 



165 

that they could give me no advice, but re- 
ferred the case to my judgment. 

Now I soon came to the painful conclu- 
sion that I must leave this loving and be- 
loved people, not knowing where I should 
find another home. However I made no 
conversation on the subject. I concluded 
to ride and visit the churches. First I 
went to Barnstable, where my son lived. 
When I arrived, in the month of June, the 
good people received me with all the cor- 
diality they ever had done, and appeared 
to regret that I ever left them. Mr. Sim- 
eon Coombs was their pastor at this time, 
but intended to be released as soon as he 
could consistently. In short, I was satisfi- 
ed that if the people knew that I could 
leave Newburyport, there would be a door 
opened in Barnstable for my poor labours ; 
but I gave no such intimation. On my re- 
turn home, I consulted my good old friend, 
Dr. Baldwin, who advised me to go to 
Barnstable if they would receive me, say- 
ing that I had persevered at Newburyport 
longer than he had thought I would, con- 
sidering the troubles I had met with. Dr. 
J. Chaplin, then about moving from Dan- 
vers to Waterville, and other good minis- 
tering brethren, gave me the same advice. 
I arrived home on Saturday, and on Mon- 
day morninof I informed the committee that 
I expected to be released from my pastoral 
charge in three months from that time. 



166 

Then by letter I informed my son at 
Barnstable, what had transpired. I soon 
bad a letter from Elder Coombs, urging me 
to come to Barnstable, if I could leave 
Newburyport, and another from the clerk 
of the church and society, requesting me 
to commence my labours with them at the 
expiration of the year for which they had 
engaged Mr. Coombs, &c. 

A church meeting was called to attend 
to my request, which I stated, and offered 
V my reasons. I told them that during the 
thirteen years I had served them, I had 
rode thirty-five hundred miles in their ser- 
%i vice, and collected ^ 3500, including ^900 
^'j^^. collected in their society, which I had paid 
over to their treasurer, without making the 
society any expense. And during my resi- 
dence with them I had expended ^ 1000 
for the support of my family, in addition to 
all that I had received of the people. But 
now I had no means of supporting myself 
and family any longer in the town. For 
these reasons, and not for want of regard 
for the people, I was compelled to ask a 
dismission from my pastoral charge. 

The senior deacon addressed the church, 
and said they had heard the pastor's re- 
quest, and his statements as reasons for the 
same, which he believed very correct ; that 
he was sorr}^ to part with him, and he did 
not know of any one in the church or so- 
ciety that wished him to leave. Yet he 



167 

thought the request was reasonal)Ie, and 
they would do wrong not to grant it. By 
vote the request was granted. This was a 
time of great tenderness with the pastor 
and people, a season not soon to be forgot- 
ten. With humble prayer we commended 
each other to the grace of God, and parted 
in Christian friendship. 

In August, 1818, I removed my family 
to Barnstable, and was kindly received. 
In October, Elder Coombs resigned his 
pastoral office, and I was elected pastor of 
the church without debate or discension. 
Thus was I situated with a people with 
whom I was well acquainted and of whose 
friendship and affection I could entertain 
no doubt. 

During the ministry of Mr. Barnabus 
Bates, for about five or six years, both the 
church and society were much enlarged. 
The church now consisted of about two 
hundred and sixty members, and the socie- 
ty contained two hundred and twenty rate- 
able polls. The society extended over a 
district sixteen miles in lensfth from Bass 
river on the East, to Katuet on the West, 
and from the North, to the South side of 
the Cape, interspersed with other societies. 
Individual members of the church resided 
in most of the towns in the county of 
Barnstable, which contained all the towns 
on the Cape below Plymouth and Ware- 
ham, fourteen in number. 



168 

At this time there was but one other 
Baptist church in the county, which was 
in Harwich, was the first planted and con- 
tained about an equal number of mem- 
bers with the church in Barnstable. Rev. 
James Barnaby was now their pastor, un- 
der whose able and indefatigable labours 
they had greatly increased and prospered. 
He left them in 1819, much to their grief. 
He preached awhile in New Bedford, in 
Salisbury, and in Deerfield ; but is now 
happily settled as pastor of the Baptist 
church in Dan vers. His labours have been 
owned and blessed to souls in the several 
places where he has dispensed the word of 
life. 

In September I received the distressing 
news of the death of my beloved daughter 
Ploomy Wheeler. I had previously re- 
ceived a letter informing me of her being 
very sick of a fever, and was waiting with 
painful anxiety for further intelligence. 
The letter containing the sorrowful tidings 
was handed me by Brother Benjamin Hal- 
lett, of Oysterville, at his house on Sabbath 
noon. x4s I read, 1 exclaimed, the child 
is dead! What child? said Brother H. 
I gave him the letter and retired to give 
vent to the overflowings of grief I had to 
preach in the afternoon. I endeavoured 
to compose myself and improve the solemn 
event for the benefit of the young people 
in the congregation, many of whom had 



169 

been acquainted with my daughter in child- 
hood. I did not change the subject I had 
contemplated, but accommodated it to the 
occasion. The text was Psalm Ixxii. 12. 
** For He shall deliver the needy when he 
crieth ; the poor also, and him that hath no 
helper." 

My daughter w^as a member of the Bap- 
tist church in Troy, under the pastoral care 
of Brother Summers, who sent me a con- 
soling letter, giving an account of the happy 
and peaceful state of mind she possessed 
in her sickness, and the near approach of 
death. She left an affectionate husband, 
and three children to mourn their loss, and 
a large circle of Christian friends who la- 
mented her death as one greatly beloved. 
** It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him 
good." 

I had a large field for ministerial labour 
open before me, and in some measure felt 
ray need of Divine assistance both in body 
and mind, to enable me to perform the im- 
portant duties of the responsible station. 
The centre of the church was in Hyannis, 
a pleasant little village in the South-east 
part of the town, where stands the meet- 
ing-house, and near it I purchased a house 
and garden, and secured the payment by 
mortgage. 

The church was in a very languid state 
when I came to them, som.e of the mem- 
bers walked disorderly, and for a time we 
15 



170 

had some difficulty in maintaining proper 
discipline. But a happy revival of re- 
ligion commenced in the spring of 1819. 
The good work first appeared in Rev. 
Enoch Pratt's society, in the North-west 
part of the town, about nine miles from 
Hyannis. Mr. Pratt is a pious Orthodox 
Pedobaptist minister. He sent a messen- 
ger requesting me to come and assist him. 
I Avent, and preached every day from 
Monday till Saturday. The holy Spirit 
wrought powerfully upon the minds of the 
people; many were deeply affected under 
a conviction of their guilty, lost state ; a 
deep solemnity reigned through the crowd- 
ed assemblies, in stillness. As the fruits of 
this good work I suppose about fifty were 
added to that church who professed to have 
passed from death to life, and about forty 
to another Orthodox church in the South 
part of tlie town. 

At length the heavenly influence was 
felt in Hyannis, which put new life into 
the church. A goodly number of young 
people were awakened and brought to 
hope in the Saviour. Elder Coombs, who 
still lived in the town, was very useful in 
the reformation. He baptized twenty who 
joined our church, two of whom were his 
children, Stephen and Hannah Coombs. 
Stephen is now a useful pastor of a Bap- 
tist church in New Chester, N. H. He 
obtained his education at Mr. Farnsworth's 



171 

Academy, in New Hampton. Besides 
those who joined with us, Mr. Coombs bap- 
tized ten or twelve who joined the Chick- 
woket Orthodox churcli. These had been 
sprinkled in infancy. Mr. Sturtevant, the 
nastor of said church, immersed about as 
many who had not been sprinkled. The 
method in which he proceeded was new to 
many who witnessed it. He led the can- 
didates into the water, wet his hand and 
hiid it on their faces, then pronounced the 
solemn words, " in the name," &c. ; then he 
put tiiem under water, leaving them to get 
out as they could. One instance was that 
of a young female; as she rose to the sur- 
ftice of the water, the administrator being 
gone ashore, appeared to feel herself lost 
and made off into deep water, and for a 
moment was thought to be in danger of 
being drowned. A good old lady in the 
crowd, in her fright exclaimed, ''Where 
are all the old Baptists, will they let that 
young woman drown ]" Let no one think 
this an exa2:2:erated tale, it is sober fact, as 
scores now living in Barnstable can testify. 
f wv'^s sitting in my chaise at a short dis- 
tance and saw the whole transaction. Y^wt 
it happened in this case as it has with other 
individuals who have tried to please every 
body. Neither Baptists nor Pedobaptists 
were pleased with this novel attempt at ac- 
commodation. Some of the parents of the 
young people thus baptized were offended, 



172 

and some of the candidates were dissatisfi- 
ed. The administrator might be satisfied 
with his conduct in this instance, but I 
doubt whether any others could be found 
who would, in all respects, justify such a 
course of procedure. I have heard Mr. 
Sturtevant preach the gospel with satisfac- 
tion, but when he undertook to support un- 
written tradition he was led astray. 

At a church-meeting Elder Coombs 
brought up the query whether the church 
could not consistently invite those to oc- 
casional communion who had been baptiz- 
ed, although they had joined a Pedobaptist 
church? I felt an objection to the propo- 
sal, but at the same time felt a delicacy in 
making strong opposition to it, and as 1 did 
not think the motion would prevail, I said 
but little. After some debate, the motion 
was put, and carried by a small majority, 
in such general terms as " to invite all 
to our communion who had been baptized 
on profession of faith, and were in good 
standing in any evangelical church." This 
was opening the door so wide, that at one 
communion season, the members of four 
denominations, besides our own, joined. 
A number of the members of the church 
withdrew on account of the innovation. 
The difficulty existed about one year, till 
we had obtained the opinion of the War- 
ren Association, disapproving the practice, 
when a vote was passed disannulling the 




173 

former vote. The church was now restor- 
ed to their former order, and travelled on 
in harmony. 

Three or four months after the com- 
mencement of the precious revival in which 
Elder Coombs was much engaged, the good 
man was taken sick of a fever of which he 
died in October, 1819, aged 59 years. He 
professed religion in his youth, commenced 
in the ministry in early life, and maintain- 
ed an exemplary course of conduct to the 
close of his earthly pilgrimage. His amia- 
ble disposition, fervent piety, good judg- 
ment, ready invention and long experience, 
appeared in some measure to supply the 
deficiency of a classical education. It may 
be said of him as was said of the prophet 
Daniel, "He was of an excellent spirit and 
greatly beloved." He left his pious widow 
and thirteen children to mourn their loss. 
His remains were conveyed to our meet- 
ing-house where I delivered a funeral dis- 
course to a large and deeply affected as- 
sembly, from 2 Timothy, iv. 7 ; "I have 
fought a good fight, I have finished my 
course, I have kept the faith." 

The church in Harwich was destitute of 
a pastor for about two years, after Mr. Bar- 
naby left them, and they frequently called 
on me for assistance. I was often request- 
ed to preach in Pocasset, Falmouth, Wack- 
woyt, Brewster, Orleans, Chatham, &.c. 
There were not far from seven hundred 
15* 



174 

professed Baptists belonging to the two 
churches of Barnstable and Harwich, scat- 
tered up and down the Cape ; and for a 
number of years there was no regular Bap- 
tist minister in the county, but myself. If 
I could have truly rejoiced in all my la- 
bour, I might have had joy enough. 

Elder David Curtis preached in Har- 
wich about three or four years, and his la- 
bours were attended with a blessing to the 
people in Harwich and towns adjoining, 
but he went to New Bedford in 1824, and 
the same year our young brethren Stephen 
Coombs and Otis Wing, were ordained, and 
preached for a short time in the count)' ; 
Brother Coombs in Harwich, and Brother 
Wing in Brewster, Orleans and Chatham, 
and was instrumental of raising a church in 
each of these tow^ns. But these young 
men left the region and entered semina- 
ries ; Brother Wing at South Reading, and 
is now the successful pastor of the Second 
Baptist Church in Haverhill ; Brother 
Nymphus Handy was ordained and went 
to Halifax, where he still resides. Brother 
Handy and Brother Coombs were members 
of the church in Barnstable. 



CHAPTER XL 

A VERY extensive and powerful revival 
of religion commenced in Hyannis, in 1S23, 
which continued about two years. In the 
month of April we were favoured with 
some tokens for good. The members of 
the church were excited to set apart a day 
to meet for special prayer for a gracious 
rain of rij^hteousness. Much deep feeling 
for the sais^ation of precious souls was man- 
ifested in liumble confessions of backslid- 
ings, fervent supplications and affectionate 
exhortations. Soon after this interesting 
meeting, some young people were awaken- 
ed to a deep sense of their guilty, lost and 
perishing s^ate, and were brought to re* 
joice in hope. A few days after the good 
work commenced, and before any had pro- 
fessed to be brought into gospel liberty, I 
set out a joUiUey into the State of New 
York, which I had previously appointed. 
When I returned, a meeting of the young 
converts was attended and about twenty 
gave the reasons of their hope. Fourteen 
were baptized by Elder Curtis, at the first 
administration, and afterwards five^ six and 
seven at a time, till about forty were re- 



176 

ceived ; and the next year a number more 
were added. But the good work was not 
limited to our society or denomination. 
The work extended into the lower towns 
as far as Chatham and Orleans. In some of 
these towns the work might have com- 
menced before it did with us. The Ortho- 
dox Conorreorationalists and Methodists shar- 
ed largely in the revival. As the fruit of 
this gracious rain, six Baptist churches 
were constituted in the county within a- 
bout two years. These were in Falmouth 
village, Wockwoyt, Yarmouth, Brewster, 
Orleans and Chatham. Four of these have 
erected good meeting-houses, namely, Yar- 
mouth, Brewster, Orleans and Chatham. I 
had preached frequently in all these pla- 
ces before there were any Baptist churches 
constituted, and was well acquainted with 
the people. I shall not give an account of 
the rise of all these churches, but will give 
a sketch of one of them. 

In one of my tours down the Cape, I was 
favoured with the compan}^ of our late be- 
loved brother, Elder Isaac Kimball. We 
called on Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Orleans. I 
had some acquaintance with him, and con- 
sidered him a pious, experimental preacher. 
I had been told that a precious revival had 
recently visited his people, in which the 
minister and a considerable number of the 
church had professed to have experienced 
a gracious change. He received us kindly. 



177 

and requested one of us to preach his sa- 
cramental lecture the next day, to which 
we agreed. The next day I left Brother 
Kimball to pursue his journey down the 
Cape, and I returned from Eastham to 
preach the lecture. I preached to a large, 
attentive assembly. Text, ''I know mv 
sheep, and am known of mine." As I 
passed out of the house, I was met by a 
gentleman who invited me to go home with 
him who said his name was Rider, a mem- 
ber of the Second Baptist Church in Bos- 
ton, and the only Baptist in Orleans. I 
went ; his neighbours assembled, and I 
preached from " It is good for us to be 
here." I noticed several circumstances 
attending the transfiguration of Christ, 
which rendered it good for the disciples to 
be present. 1st. It was a prayer-meeting. 
2d. Christ led in their devotions. 3d. He 
appeared in his glory. 4th. Moses and 
Elias appeared Avith them. 5th. The 
prayer-meeting became a conference-meet- 
ing.^ 6th. The subject; they talked with 
him of the decease v^^iich he was shortly to 
accomplish at .Jerusalem. 7th. A cloud 
overshadowed them. 8th. A voice out of 
the cloud, &c. There were a number of 
the leadinof influential members of the 
church present. They exhorted, prayed 
and sung, and said it was good for them to be 
there. Next day Mr. Johnson said, he and 
I must have an exchange. 



178 

About this time, as I understood, the 
church had appointed a committee to draw 
up articles of faith to be adopted, for al- 
though the church had been standing more 
than an hundred years, they had never 
adopted any articles of faith. I was told by 
two of the committee that they proceeded 
very well till they came to the article of 
Baptism. Here they were in difficulty. 
They could find no proof for infant sprink- 
ling. After deliberating on the subject for 
some time, they reported to the church that 
two of them had become Baptists and wish- 
ed to be released from serving on the com- 
mittee ; but the church thought it better 
to add two more ; and in a short time the}^ 
all five, and their wives, became Baptists. 
A church was formed in July, 1826 or 1827 ; 
and in one year from the time of its con- 
stitution it had increased from eight mem- 
bers to thirty-two, under the ministry of 
Mr. Otis Wing. In 1828, they erected 
themselves a very neat and commodious 
house of worship. 1 had the pleasure of 
preaching in it one Sabbath before it was 
finished. 

The churches in Falmouth and Yar- 
mouth were constituted of members dis- 
missed from the church in Barnstable. 
That in Falmouth has never had a regular 
pastor. Elder Simeon Crowell is the pas- 
tor of the church in Yarmouth. He was 
ordained to the work of the ministry by 



179 

the church in Barnstable, and continued a 
member there, till he and the other mem- 
bers were dismissed for the purpose of con- 
stituting tlie church to which he ministers. 
It is small, and I conclude that very little 
is done for his support. 

I have now to record a sorrowful event 
which none can fully realise but those who 
have experienced the same. My son, Sam- 
uel Adams, was taken sick while attending 
as crier of the court in Barnstable, May 
7, 1824, and brought to my house in Hy- 
annis, six miles from his residence, on Point 
Gammon, where he had the care of the 
light-house. At first his physician pro- 
nounced his disease to be the lung fever, 
afterward the typhus fever. • He continu- 
ed to languish for forty days, when he ex- 
pired June IG, 1824, aged forty -one years 
and three months. For several days his 
friends were not apprehensive that his sick- 
ness would prove mortal ; but about ten 
days before he died, his case was consider- 
ed dangerous. Now his anxious wife and 
aiilicted father, with his children and other 
sympathising friends, were much affected 
with the distressing scene. He was not 
considered to be pious, but had many 
friends. He was favoured with the exer- 
cise of his intellectual powers, and appear- 
ed to realise his danger. He gave direc- 
tions and made what arrangements he could 
for his fi\mily. He manifested deep anxie- 



180 

ty for his immortal interest. His pious 
companion was more anxious for his pre- 
cious soul than for herself or children. The 
anxiety I felt for my dear and only child 
from day to day, when by him and when 
retired, I still have fresh in my memory, 
but I labour in vain to describe it. Fre- 
quently did we bow around his bed in hum- 
ble supplications, while he, his parents, his 
wife and children, all were bathed in tears* 
He spake of his wicked life and hard and 
unyielding heart with much tenderness, 
and with sobs and tears would ask his 
weeping father whether he thought such a 
great sinner could be forgiven. 

Seven days before he died, early in the 
morning, as I approached his bed-side, he 
spoke with cheerfulness, and said, "Father, 
rejoice with me. God is merciful. He has 
appeared for me. I have had a happy night 
in thinking on his love and mercy. I can 
give myself into his hands, and can give you 
ail up, parents, wife and children. I can 
leave 3'ou all with the Lord," &c. Thus 
he continued in much such a state of mind 
till his reason failed, a little before his de- 
cease. I stood by him to the last, and felt 
a degree of calm submission. But the next 
day in my retirement, I had a fit of weep- 
ing come over me, which lasted for an hour 
or more. I was grieved that I was written 
childless, and when I thoughtof the conde- 
scending goodness of our heavenly Father, 



181 

that we are permitted to indulge some 
hope for my son, the tears of gratitude 
woukl How afresh. I think I indulged to 
excess, but it was my weakness, and how 
much selfishness there was in my exercises 
I cannot say ; but I hope the bereavement 
has been overruled for my good. He was 
interred from the meeting-house. Three 
ministers attended. Mr. Bailey preached 
an instructive good sermon, and more pa- 
rade was exhibited on the occasion than I 
desired. 

My son left his widow, three sons and 
two daughters. His oldest son w^as twenty, 
his second eighteen, and the youngest six 
years of age. The ages of his daughters 
w-ere thirteen and eleven years. 

When my daughter died, in 1818, she 
left two daughters and one son, aged about 
five, three and one years. Of eight grand 
children, five have been baptized on pro- 
fession of faith since the death of their pa- 
rents. My son's w4dow departed this life 
in April, 1829, greatly lamented, as she 
had lived respected. 

By agreement the society removed their 
old meeting-house and erected another on 
the same site, 60 feet by 40, with a tower,, 
in which they have since hung a bell. The 
house was completed in December, 1825, 
and cost $4000. From this period the 
church and society have increased and pros- 
pered. Elder Enoch Eldridge, their first 
16 



182 

pastor, was called by this church to ordina- 
tion. The other ministers whom they have 
set apart to the sacred office, are Elders 
Shubael Lovell, Barnabas Bates, Simeon 
Crowell, Nymphus Handy, and Stephen 
Coombs. E. Eldredge Chase and Jas. Mar- 
chant were licensed by the same church. 
Elder Edward N. Harris is now their pas- 
tor, and his labours are greatly blest. 

I had now been in the ministry more 
than forty years, and had been obliged to 
walk with crutches about five years. The 
labour devolving upon me was greater than 
I could well perform. I knew the relation 
between me and the people must soon ter- 
minate, and I thought the motion had bet- 
ter come from me than from them. As it 
was a time of peace and harmony in the 
church and society, I thought it a favoura- 
ble time to make the request as it respect- 
ed the people and myself. Therefore, af- 
ter giving the church and society three 
months notice, I obtained an honourable 
dismission, and separated on friendly terms, 
April, 1828. 

Under the patronage of the Massachu- 
setts Baptist Missionary Society, I preach- 
ed in the county three months. Here were 
eight churches and but one pastor, viz. 
Elder S. Crowell, of Yarmouth. I preach- 
ed, attended church-meetings and admin- 
istered the Lord's supper in Falmouth, 
Wockwoyt, Harwich, Brewster and Or- 
leans, and preached in many other places. 



183 

I was in debt and my house under mort- 
gage, which must probably be sold for less 
than its value if I did not redeem it. I let 
the case be known to my friends in Hyan- 
nis, who gave me about fifty dollars. I then 
came into Boston and vicinity, supplied 
Brother Leverett's pulpit five weeks, and 
visited other churches in the region ; and, 
by the liberality of my friends, was enabled 
to take up the mortgage on my place, but 
could not keep it and pay all my debts. 1 
stated the case to some of my Christian 
brethren, who advised me to sell my house, 
remove to South Reading, and take a board- 
ing house for the accommodation of stu- 
dents of the Baptist academy about to be 
established in that town, and supply occa- 
sionally the destitute churches in the neigh- 
bourhood. As 1 did not think of engaging 
to preach regularly with any people, I 
thought it best to comply with this advice, 
and accordingly sold my place for ^500, 
paid my debts, and removed to South Read- 
ing in October, 1828. 

While I resided in Reading, I preached 
to the destitute during the summer, but in 
cold weather was unable to travel abroad. 

In March, 1830, I made a settlement 
with my boarders, and found that my in- 
come fell short of my expenses ^ 150, in 
seventeen months. I gave up my large 
boarding-house, sold my horse and chaise, 
a part of my furniture and library, paid 



184 

my debts and removed to Boston, the last 
of March ; obtained a good house in Fed- 
eral Street ; tried to get boarders, but could 
not succeed. After making trial three 
months, I gave up the boarding-house, the 
rent of which was about ^ 300 per year ; 
removed into a cheap tenement and gave 
up the idea of getting a living by taking 
boarders. 

The African Baptist Church, in this city, 
of which Jillder Thomas Paul had been 
pastor, was now destitute of a preacher. 
By their request I commenced in April 
and continued to labour wdth them nine 
months, and was assisted by the Massachu- 
setts Baptist Convention. This church had 
been in a prosperous state, but was now re- 
duced to only twenty-three members in 
the church, and not so well united as was 
desirable. The whole congregation on the 
Sabbath contained, perhaps, forty or fifty 
people, old and young. 

They were wonderfully pleased to have 
me preach to them. My first object was 
to obtain a union among the members, 
which was accomplished after considerable 
effort, by the kind assistance of my belov- 
ed brother, Elder William ('oilier. 

Now the prospect was more encouraging. 
Backsliders returned, confessed their wan- 
derings, and were restored. Some were 
received by letter, others were baptized by 
Brother Collier, and added to the church. 



185 

There were a few instances of hopeful con- 
version, and others anxious ; so that for a 
time they were in a prosperous, happy 
state. When I left them, in January, 1831, 
the number in the church was forty-nine, 
and the congregation consisted of about 
two hundred. They had obtained a man 
of colour, by the name of Washington 
Christian, who they expected would be- 
come their pastor, so that I was happily re- 
leased. 

I went to South Reading and preached 
three weeks, in February and March. 
Then I laboured one week in Canton and 
three in Sharon. In April and May I 
spent six weeks in East Stoughton, Canton 
and West Bridgewater. During the sum- 
mer, I laboured four weeks in Canton, four 
weeks in Randolph, three in Middlebor- 
ough, two in Barnstable, and one in Hano- 
ver. After the first of September, I 
preached in South Reading, Pelham and 
Newtown, N. H. East Haverhill, Salisbury, 
Newbury port, Wenham, Maiden, West 
Bridgewater, and several other places, and 
attended five protracted meetings. Of 
some of the people to whom I preached I 
received a generous compensation, of oth- 
ers little or nothing. For a part of the 
time I preached to the poor and destitute. 

I arrived home from West Bridgewa- 
ter the last of November, much fatigued. 
Since that time I have attempted to preach 
16* 



186 

but a few times, and have earned nothing. 
Had it not been for the assistance of kind 
and benevolent friends I must have suffer- 
ed great inconvenience, at least. In the 
fore part of the winter I was very unwell 
with the influenza, followed by a distress- 
ing cough, which continued for several 
weeks. Since the cough has left me I have 
had a debility on my lungs, which I never 
realised for so long a time before. But 
through Divine goodness I am now favour- 
ed with better health. 

Since the first of March I have employ- 
ed myself in writing this work, which will 
be approved by some, and set at nought by 
others. But if each of my friends should 
take one copy, at the low price affixed, I 
shall be able to pay the printer and have 
something left. 



*^ 



CHAPTER XIL 



The contrast between the state of religion and re- 
ligious privileges now, and what they were forty-seven 
years ago, is very great. Mr. John Aspland published a 
register of the Biipiist denomination in the year 1791, 
and another in 1794. Previous to publishing his second 
register he travelled seventeen thousand miles in the 
United States, to collect materials for the work, as stat- 
ed in Benedict's History of the Baptist denomination, 
vol. ii. page 266. The number of communicants of the 
Baptist churches in the United States in 1794, as stated 
by Mr. Aspland, amounted to a little more than sixty 
thousand. Therefore, I conclude, that we may estimate 
the number, at the period to which I allude, 1785, at 
not far from fifty thousand; but now we number about 
four hundred thousand. 

At the former period we were a miner sect and op- 
pressed by other denominations; but now, if we except 
the Methodists, who frequently baptize by immersion, we 
are the most numerous of any sect of Protestant Christ- 
ians in the United States of America. To what shalJ 
we impute this astonishing increase? Not to civil au- 
thority; for this, in the several States, has generally 
been in the hands of our opponents; and where the 
Baptists have had the rule, as in Rhode Island and Ken- 
tucky, they have uniformly disclaimed all coercive meas- 
ures in religious matters. Not to the influence of litera- 
ture ; for at that early period there were but few men of 
learning in the denomination ; a few venerable men, 
such as Stillman and Skillman, Smith and Manning, and 
perhaps as many more, included all the Baptist ministers 



188 

in the New England States, who were considered class- 
ical men. Not in consequence of possessing superior 
wealth ; for, although there have been some wealthy, lib- 
eral Baptists, ever since I have been acquainted with 
them, yet they have generally been an afflicted and poor 
people. Not because they have formerly laid any wise 
or deep plans for the increase or reputation of the de- 
nomination ; for they have been the most improvident 
people that ever prospered. Till recently they have had 
but one considerable literary institution, in any measure 
under their control ;* and that has had but very little 
direct bearing upon the denomination. Their ministers 
have been greatly neglected in their education and sup- 
port; and, in some instances, they have too much neg- 
lected the education of their children. Asa certain 
writer has said on another subject, the cause of the pros- 
perity and increase of the Baptists, ** must be made out 
in some other way." Our Lord and Saviour promised 
his people to send the holy Spirit to lead them into the 
truth, John xvi. 13. *' When he, the Spirit of truth, is 
come, he will guide you into all truth." It will be ad- 
mitted by evangelical Christians, that, since the com- 
mencement of the present century, an extraordinary 
rain of the holy Spirit has been poured upon the 
churches. It will be granted also, that the holy Spirit 
never leads into error, but in proportion as individuals 
are brought under the influence of this infallible guide, 
they are led in conformity to the inspired word. It is 
thought that hereby the Orthodox have been led to take 
a decided stand in defence of the doctrine of Christ, 
against latitudinarian errors. No good reason can be 
offered why the holy Spirit should not lead Christians 
into practical truth as well as doctrinal. Hence it has 
been the policy of the advocates for unwritten tradition, 
so far as it respects gospel baptism, to dissuade young 
Christians from investigating the subject. But truth 
never shrinks from the light. The Baptist churches 
have been favoured with a happy share of the heavenly 
influence, which has blessed our nation ; and in those 

* Brown University. 



189 

seasons of the special influence of the holy Spirit their 
distinguishing sentiments have prevailed more than at 
other times. It is thought that the same blessed influ- 
ence has had considerable effect on individuals of other 
denominations in this respect. Within fifty years, mem- 
bers have been excluded from the fellowship of churches 
for the crime of denying " the divine rite of infant bap- 
tism." 

Formerly our denomination was taxed for the support 
of preachers of other sects. But the scene is wonder- 
fully changed. We now have liberty to worship where 
we choose, and pay our money where we please. Now, 
instead of fines, prisons, whipping and banishment, 
some Pedobaptist churches seem to esteem it a great ac- 
quisition, if they can persuade a single Baptist to join 
their communion, whether male or female, informed or 
uninformed ; and some of their ministers even conde- 
scend to go down into the water and immerse such can- 
didates as cannot be satisfied with sprinkling or pouring, 
provided they have not been sprinkled in infancy ; and 
in some cases they hare been so condescending as to 
immerse those who had been sprinkled on the faith of 
their parents, and so become anabaptists or rebaptizers, 
baptizing the same person twice, if they hold both to be 
baptism. They have condescended still further, in par- 
tial conformity to our sentiments. In some of their 
churches they hold members in full communion who re- 
nounce infant baptism altogether, and consider it to be 
nothing more than a human invention ; and in some in- 
stances they have revised their articles of faith, or 
church covenant, and left the article of infant baptism 
out, that they may gain the more. 

Some of these circumstances, I mention, not to prove 
our sentiments to be correct, for this we are fully able to 
do from the holy Bible, our opponents being judges, but 
to show the vast contrast between the present and the 
former days. Surely a milder day has dawned upon the 
Baptist church. We have nothing to fear from any ar- 
guments which will ever be produced by people of such 
accommodating principles, and such latitudinarian prac* 
ijces as here noticed. 



190 

The general government under which we live is after 
our own model. When I was in Virginia, I was inform- 
ed, that Thomas Jefferson when a young man, occasion- 
ally attended a Baptist meeting, which was held once in 
a month near his plantation, and frequently invited the 
preacher to his mansion. Mr. Jefferson having become 
acquainted with their form of church government, the 
preacher asked him how he approved of it. He said he 
thought it the best that was ever adopted, and that, if all 
churches would adopt the same, there would be no per- 
secution ; and he had thought that if these colonies 
should ever separate from the British government, it 
would be the best form of government for them to adopt. 
This acute philosopher and great statesman lived to see 
the great work accomplished. 

If all the state governments are not as yet strictly con- 
formed to the general government, so far as liberty of 
conscience is concerned, we pray that the desirable ob- 
ject may be obtained. 

Perhaps there is no nation which enjoys such religious 
liberty, and at the same time such good government and 
order, as this nation is blessed with. The present is 
justly styled the age of improvement, in things temporal, 
but especially in reference to the great interests of mo- 
rality and religion. 

The benevolent societies now in operation are a rich 
blessing to this generation, and their memory will be 
handed down to future generations as the wonder of 
the age. 

The Bible Societies in Great Britain and America 
commands our first admiration. Wherever the precious 
truths of that holy, sacred volume are disseminated and 
cordially received, it prompts the human mind to every 
good work. Thousands and millions of the children of 
men have learned, by blessed experience, that the holy 
Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, 
through faith in the Lord Jesus. No man is against 
the Bible till he finds that the Bible is against him. But 
when he finds himself reproved, by that holy Book, for 
an ungodly course of life, if his conscience is so en- 
lightened by the inspired pages as to realise that accord- 



191 

ing to that divine testimony he is exposed to endless wo. 
for his great wickedness, and at the same time is not 
disposed to repent of, and forsake his sins, and seek par- 
don through tlie merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus 
Christ ; then he will labour to discredit the word of 
God. He must repent and embrace the gospel, or live 
unhappy if he cannot discredit the truth of the revealed 
word. But in so doing he increases his guilt by con- 
sidering the God of truth as a liar, and fastens the 
chains of moral darkness more strongly on his mind. 
This he does to quiet and encourage himself in wicked- 
ness ; but his sin and guilt remains. He must awake 
and come to judgment. 

But the word of the Lord shall prosper in the thing 
whereto it is sent. The precious truths contained there- 
in, being brought to bear on the mind, makes known 
the only possible way of salvation. 

Tract Societies, which are now in operation throughout 
Christendom, are little silent messengers, carrying prec- 
ious portions of divine truth to thousands to whom liv- 
ing preachers could have no access, and have been bless- 
ed to the souls of many who were sunk in moral degra- 
dation. Thereby whole villages, that had been desti- 
tute of the ministry of the word, have been incited 
to seek for, and have obtained the preached gospel. 
Christians, moralists, statesmen and philanthropists, 
should all patronize the Tract cause. One evidence 
of the importance of the Tract cause may be gathered 
from the alarm manifested by the enemies of evangeli- 
cal truth to the circulation of these faithful and success- 
ful monitors. 

Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes, with their libra- 
ries, have been, and are productive of increasing good 
to our youth and children. If the youthful mind is ear- 
ly imbued with religious knowledge, it will be more abid- 
ing and have a more direct bearing upon the heart and 
life than what is acquired at a later period. 

The Temperance cause is one of the benevolent en- 
terprises of this age of improvement. The success 
which has crowned the efforts of the friends of tempe- 
rance has surprised the public. We have been slow to 



192 

learn ; but now it is clearly demonstrated, that distilled 
spirits are not only unnecessary but injurious to body 
and mind, to be used as a drink by people in health, and 
for invalids. It is now manifest, from diligent and faith- 
ful investigation, that by far the greatest part of the pau- 
perism, poverty, wretchedness and crime, with which 
this nation has been afflicted for years past, can be sat- 
isfactorily traced to the use of ardent spirits as a drink. 
Information on this important subject is rapidly spread- 
ing through this country, has extended across the Atlan- 
tic, and is promoting a wonderful reform in some of the 
nations of Europe. It is believed that moderate and 
temperate drinkers will soon generally abandon the traf- 
fic and use of it altogether, as thousands have done, and 
then the reform will be effected, and the degrading 
calamity be removed. 

The great Missionary enterprise is an honourable trait 
in the character of this improving age. In primitive 
days nothing distinguished the disciples of Christ more 
than their fervent zeal and untiring efforts in promoting 
and extending the kingdom of Christ. For this object 
they, with undaunted fortitude, exposed themselves to 
the cruel rage of furious persecutors. And is the sub- 
lime subject of less magnitude now? Certainly not. 
The excellency of the gospel is the same, the salvation 
of immortal souls of equal importance. The work of 
the holy Spirit is the same, and produces like fruits. 
The command to go into all the world and preach the 
gospel to every creature is still in full force. The mis- 
sionary spirit is no other than the spirit of Christ, 
operating, in some feeble measure, in the hearts of 
Christians, exciting them in tender compassion to pray, 
and do something to promote the eternal interest of our 
benighted fellow men. 

It is a great honour to be employed as instruments, 
and the most successful is but an instrument, in promote 
ing that kingd(^m which is destined to become exceed- 
ing great, and fill the whole earth ; a kingdom of righte- 
ousness and peace ; an everlasting kingdom. 

It is thought that those churches, which have engaged 
most heartily and liberally in aid of the missionary cause, 



193 

have been the most prosperous in tilings spiritual and 
temporal, and are able to do more with less inconven- 
ience now than when they first had their attention turn- 
ed to the subject ; while other communities or individu- 
als who have treated the subject with dislike, or neglect, 
have sunk into a cold, languid, declining state. They 
may support reputable characters as sober industrious 
citizens ; they may lay up wealth for their posterity ; 
but if they are not influenced by a benevolent concern 
for the souls of their fellow men, they will feel as if they 
could not be at the expense of supporting preaching 
every Sabbath ; or, if they could have it without ex- 
pense, but few will attend ; and such as do attend the 
preached word, seldom profit by it. They think lightly 
of the forms of religion and less of the power. The 
love of this world has so much engrossed their attention 
tliat they think but little of souls, their neighbours, or 
their own. 

The kingdom of Christ is a rising cause. The 
King must reign till he hath put all enemies under his 
feet. The church has partially awaked to action, but 
the friends of Christ will shortly be cheered by behold- 
ing greater things than has yet transpired, by the tri- 
umphs of evangelical truth. It has been said by Dr. 
Carey, the indefatigable and successful missionary of 
Serempore, and celebrated linguist, who was born Octo- 
ber, 1761, that he hoped that his grand children would 
live to see the kingdom of Christ set up in all nations. 
But if wise men cannot look into futurity so as to define 
with accuracy the day or the hour when the kingdom 
shall appear in its glory, yet we have the sure word of 
prophecy wherein we may trust with confidence. The 
fulfilment of the past is a pledge for the future. 

Every revival of pure religion is an accession to the 
cause of missions. Older Christians are led into more 
enlarged views and clearer understanding of their duty, 
and are more ardently desirous of the advancement of 
the cause of Christ and the salvation of their fellow 
men. They now see more clearly the connection be* 
tween the divinely appointed means and the great end 
to b€ accomplished thereby. As their hearts are en- 
17 



194 

Urged with the love of Christ, their desires are in- 
creased for the salvation of immortal souls. The more 
they are blessed with the quickening influence of the 
holy Spirit, the more will their affections be taken from 
earthly objects, and placed on things above, on the right- 
hand of God, where Jesus is. Hence they will more 
devoutly pray, ** Thy kingdom come ;" they will more 
cheerfully bear the cross, and devote their talents, influ- 
ence and property to promote the spread of the gospel. 

Late revivals of religion have brought a vast amount 
of influence to bear upon the great object of missions, 
by the conversion of a great number of young people ; 
among whom are many young men coming forth into 
tlie ministry, in answer to the prayers of the church. 
Within a few days I have been informed, by unques- 
tionable authority, that eleven pious young gentlemen 
who were about to graduate from the flourishing literary 
institution at Hamilton, N. Y. have resolved to offer 
themselves as candidates for the Burman Mission ; and 
several others purpose to do the same when they have 
completed their studies at the institution. While I was 
meditating on this surprising intelligence, and thinking 
how they could be supported, a friend stepped in and in- 
formed me, that within a week ten thousand dollars had 
been received into the treasury for the Burman Mission ! 

If we meet with such cheering events now, when the 
Christian church is not more than half awake, what 
wonders will be witnessed when all shall unite, as the 
heart of one man, in the promulgation of the gospel of 
peace ! When all who are called by the name of Christ 
«hall come up to the help of the Lord against the 
mighty ! 

The time may soon arrive when the great company of 
the saints shall be as zealous, industrious and persever- 
ing in advancing the kingdom of peace and love, at 
worldlings are in amassing wealth, or as warriors have 
been in shedding blood. Yea, it is even so now with a 
goodly number, and their number is daily increasing ; 
and that degree of success attends their labours, which, 
in the view of Christians, proves the fact, that the Lord 
approves of, and blesses them in their work. 



195 

Learning has greatly revived of late through this 
country. The advantages for obtaining an education 
ape very great now, compared with what they were fifty 
or sixty years ago. The Baptist denomination are tak- 
ing a lively interest in the education of such young men 
as are approved as candidates for the gospel ministry. 
And the undertaking has prospered beyond the anticipa- 
tions of some of its most hearty friends. The Northern 
Baptist Education Society is worthy of the patronage of 
the whole denomination. Entire confidence is placed in 
the managers, as men of talent, integrity and diligent 
attention to the best interest of the society, professing 
and manifesting a warm attachment to the gospel in its 
•primitive purity. I say thus much, not to flatter, or to 
seek favour, but because truth demands it, and because 
1 think the object of the society is worthy of more pa- 
tronage than it has received. It has been honourably 
sustained by a few churches and individuals in a very 
generous manner, but by a few only, compared with 
what might come forth in this cause. 

The importance of an enlightened and intelligent 
ministry in this country is daily increasing, because the 
people are improving in knowledge, as it respects both 
the friends and enemies of evangelical truth. If public 
teachers are not proportionably advanced in literature 
and intelligence, their influence will be small, if not per- 
nicious. As far as my knowledge extends, there is not 
a Baptist church in the New England States that would 
not prefer a man of good education for their minister, 
other things being equal. 

The old maxim that " ignorance is the mother of de- 
votion," is too stale for this enlightened age. A man 
cannot teach that with which he is unacquainted. I 
have suffered much in my feelings through the whole of 
my ministry for the want of an early education. And 
now I shall soon put off this tabernacle, the love I bare 
to the glorious gospel, the Christian ministry, the souls 
of men and my junior brethren, leads me to speak thus 
plainly. 

The amount of responsibility resting on our highly 
favoured young men, who, as candidates for the sacred 



196 

ministry, are sustained as beneficiaries, is very great. 
The professors and teachers of our Theological and 
Academical Institutions, are such as to secure the full 
confidence of the public. If young men who are fa- 
voured with such advantages do not make improvement, 
it will be thought that there is some great deficiency in 
them. 

Much is expected of our young brethren. We hope 
they will bear in mind the professed object of their stud- 
ies and live continually under the salutary influence of 
the fear of the Lord, which is a fountain of life to de- 
part from the snares of death. Then the godly exam- 
ples, pious counsels, affectionate admonitions and dili- 
gent instructions of those who have the charge of their 
education, will not be lost upon them. 

If any pious youth who is seriously impressed with 
the subject of the sacred ministry, and has not come to 
a conclusion on the subject, should cast his eyes on 
these pages, I will offer a word for his consideration. I 
would ask the young man, what is the principal motive 
which influences his mind to contemplate the great 
work? Why is the office desirable ? Is it because, like 
Moses, you choose to suffer afflictions with th? people of 
God? or is it on account of some worldly considera- 
tions, such as being surrounded by an admiring multi- 
tude listening with smiling approbation to your eloquent 
declamations ? or do you contemplate being placed in 
easy circumstances, freed from perplexing cares ? Can 
you feel sure that you are moved to engage in this holy 
work, by the love of Christ exciting in you a tender 
compassion for the souls of your fellow men ? that you 
desire to spend and be spent labouring for their eternal 
interest, and this, although you should thereby be expos- 
ed to poverty and reproach, or persecution. 

But I proceed to another evidence of being called to 
the work. Such an one will have an experimental 
knowledge of the gospel way of salvation which shall 
correspond with the word of God. It is thought to be 
inconsistent to suppose that the king should call one 
to bear tidings, and give him no tidings to bear. Those 
who are called of God to preach the gospel are favour- 



197 

cd with some spiritual understanding of gospel doctrine. 
They have a scriptural understanding of the entire de- 
pravity of the human heart, and of the infinite glory of 
the Son of God ; of the redemption by his death on the 
eross, whereby he becomes the end of the law for 
righteousness to all that believe; of the work of the 
holy Spirit in renewing the heart, and reconciling the 
sinner to God by the application of the merits of Christ; 
and of the souls being sealed to eternal life by gracious 
adoption. Thus he sees, that salvation is not of works, 
but by grace ; and that all such are kept by the power 
of God through faith unto salvation. A knowledge of 
these truths, with the doctrine of eternal judgment, are 
essential qualifications for a preacher of the gospel. If 
these precious truths are excluded from our ministry, it 
is of little consequence what else we preach. 

Some, no doubt, with selfish motives, have entered 
into the high office as professed ministers of Christ, of 
their own free will, making no pretence to a special call 
of God to the office ; and perhaps there are some who 
are highly esteemed among men as eloquent preachers, 
who make no pretensions to experimental religion. 
Such have plead scriptural example for unconverted 
men engaging in the ministry. Judas has been named 
as one of the twelve apostles who took part of the min- 
istry. There is, however, no certain proof that Judas 
ever preached the gospel. But there is ample proof that 
he was a devil ; a thief, and had the bag ; a traitor, and sold 
his master; that he went out and hanged himself, and 
went to his own place ; and that it would have been 
good for that man if he had never been born. Some 
people will think it an unfortunate circumstance for such 
gentlemen that they did not select from the Scriptures 
a more reputable character to hold up as an example, if 
such an one could have been found. However, if they 
choose to consider Judas their precedent in their minis- 
terial course, we shall not dispute their claim. " Let 
them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind, Matt. 
XV. 14. " They are of the world, therefore speak they 
of the world, and the world heareth them," 1 John iv. 5. 
But, when Christ ** putteth forth his own sheep, he 
17* 



198 

goeth before them, and the sheep follow him ; for they 
know his voice ; and a stranger will they not follow, but 
will flee from him ; for they know not the voice of stran- 
gers," John X. 4, 5. If unrenewed men, from worldly 
motives, take upon themselves this sacred calling, they 
will be known to the children of light by their fruits. 
They will teach for doctrine the commandments of men, 
and the blind only will be deceived and led astray by 
blind leaders. 

But those who are called of God to preach the gospel 
of Christ, are divinely illuminated, and able to discover, 
in some measure, the majesty and glory of the gospel, 
and something of the awful responsibility attached to the 
ministry of the word ; they will apprehend something of 
the difficulties and opposition attendant on the faithful 
preaching of the doctrine of the cross, and will enter 
upon the great work with fear and trembling, feeling 
their dependence on divine aid. But he who rushes 
into the ministry in a state of moral darkness, ignorant 
of human depravity and the doctrine of salvation by 
grace, has no thought of preaching a doctrine that will 
give offence to the carnal mind, and perhaps will not. 
If he should preach to a people as ignorant of the pow- 
er of true godliness as himself, it might be said as it is 
written, " like people like priest." Under such circum- 
stances he may obtain the reward, which, above all oth- 
ers, he most ardently desires, namely, the praise of men ; 
for he loves the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and 
to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi. 

But, my young friend, for whose instruction and warn- 
ing I have alluded to these things, I hope better things 
of you. I hope your mind is imbued with a rich expe- 
rience of the grace of God, which has taught you some- 
thing of your own weakness, sin and guilt, and led yoa, 
with adoring gratitude, to contemplate the glorious gos- 
pel of the blessed God. I hope the glad tidings of good 
ihings has elevated your affections from earth to heaven, 
and that the love of Christ is constraining you to seek 
the good of his chosen, the everlasting salvation of your 
fellow m^n. I hope the God of nature and grace has 
so richly ondowed you with natural and spiritual gifts, 



109 

which, under the eanctifying influences of the holy 
Spirit, shall render you an able minister of the New 
Testament, not of the letter but of the spirit. If in 
great conflict you are ready to say, " who is sufficient 
for these thinos " recollect the words of our blessed 
Lord and Saviour, " Lo, I am with you always, even to 
the end of the world." If a dispensation of the gospel 
is committed to you, it will have a wonderful effect on 
your mind ; the subject will absorb your thoughts by 
day and by night, when you lie down and when you rise 
up. See Paul to the Corinthians, 9th chapter, 16th and 
17th verses, " For though I preach the gospel, I have 
nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, 
wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do 
this thing willingly, I have a reward, but if against my 
will, a dispensation of the gospel is conimitted unto me." 
If you are thus called of God to go forth as an embassa- 
dor for Christ, to pray men to be reconciled to God, 
and are not disobedient to the heavenly vision, the church 
of God, comprising his witnesses, will joyfully bid you 
welcome to the cross and the crown. The school of the 
prophets will cordially receive you and kindly grant you 
every assistance that may be requisite, that you may 
*• study to show yourself approved unto God, a work- 
man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing 
the word of truth." The saints will bid you God speed, 
and follow you with their prayers, that you may be the 
honoured instrument of bringing many sons lo glory. 
You will now join a host of pious young men, looking 
forward to the same sublime employment, who will sym- 
pathise with you in your conflicts, fears and anticipa- 
tions. The more there are of such valiant youth who 
are strong in the Lord, coming forth as labourers, the 
greater the encouragement. What are two or three 
hundred candidates in the American churches, and as 
many thousands of gold and silver poured into tho 
Xiord's treasury, when compared with' the. moral dark- 
ness that now envelopes the inhabitants ftf this conti- 
nent, and five or six hundred millions of immortal souls 
invoWed in all the horrors of paganism ! These nations 
must be brought under the influence of the blessed gos- 



^ 



200 

pel and given to Christ Jesus our Lord for a possession. 
He who hath promised will do it, by means of his own 
appointment. Happy are they who are chosen to be co- 
workers with him. Remember your field of labour is 
the world ; the commission to labour therein is from 
on high. "Go ye, therefore, into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature ; he that believes 
and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth 
not, shall be damned." 

How great the contrast between the present and past! 
When I was hesitating whether 1 should engage in the 
ministry, mine was a rare solitary instance. In all that 
region of country I knew of no one who was exercised 
in a similar manner ; and I never disclosed my trials 
till after I had commenced preaching and was licensed 
as a candidate for the ministry. At that early period 
there were not in the New England States under the 
patronage of our denomination any of those benevolent 
institutions which are now exerting a salutary influence 
on the community, such as Bible, Tract, Sabbath School, 
Missionary, Education, and other Societies. At that 
time there were but eight Baptist churches on the sea 
coast, between Merrimac river and the lower part of 
Cape Cod, where there are now forty churches, and 
most of them are in a rising prosperous* state. Perhaps 
the increase has been nearly in the same proportion 
through the Eastern States. Let us then, with deep hu- 
mility, and unfeigned gratitude, praise and bless the 
God of heaven for all his goodness and wonderful works 
to the children of men, and especially for the enfarge- 
ment of the borders of Zion ; and that our poor forfeit- 
ed lives are protracted to witness the wonderful change 
in favour of religious liberty ; to witness the glorious re- 
vivals of religion, and the extension of religious privil- 
eges. The good Lord keep us humble. Let us bear in 
mind that it is not for our sakes that he is doing these 
great things in the earth, but for his own namesake. 
He is of one mind and changes not, and will do all his 
pleasure. 

If we believe that the great Head of the Church has 
given it in trust to us, as a denomination, to preserve 



201 

inviolate the doctrine, order, ordinances, dicipline anH 
fellowship of the visible kingdom of Christ, against all 
the inventions, innovations and corruptiona of an ever- 
varying world ; if we believe this, let it be seen that we 
are as steadfast and immovable in these days of falw 
charity and cringing flattery, as were our ancestors when 
they were assailed with the more terrific argumentts «f 
banishment, imprisonment and stripes. 

l^he improvements which have been made, are 
considerable ; yet in proportion to our number and 
strength, we are in the rear of some other denomina- 
tions in some important respects. Particularly we are 
deficient in our efforts to promote literature and missions. 
Individual benefactors and communities have contributed 
liberally, some have done a little, others less, and otheri 
nothing. But we hope and trust the march will be on- 
ward, until all the tithes shall be brought, with willing 
minds, into the Lord's treasury, and thereby prove the 
faithfulness of him who delights to bless his people. 

In the course of my life I see much to lament, even 
in what relates to my duty as a Christian and a minister. 
It appears to me that it may be imputed to my want of 
spirituality and faithfulness in dealing with immortal 
souls, that I have been no more successful in advancing 
the kingdom of Christ in the conversion of my fellow 
sinners. I lament that I have not, in my general walk, 
deportment and conversation, set a more holy example 
before the world. It should humble me as in the dust, 
that I have been so little influenced by the love of tb« 
Saviour in the performance of my duties as a Christian 
and a minister. It has appeared to me a strange thing 
that the word, dispensed by one so unlike what ha 
should be, was blessed to any. And yet, it has been 
very evident that the word has been made a lasting 
blessing to others when I had very little enjoyment in 
my own mind. Again, when I have been more than 
ordinarily animated in preaching, I have calculated 
that some great good would be accomplished, and have 
looked for events that I have never seen. Thus I found 
that I had been walking in the light of rny own fire and 
in the sparks that my hands had kindled, as though th« 



202 

great Jehovah was dependent on my frames and feel- 
ings for the accomplishment of the great work of saving 
sinners. 

'* My frames and feelings ebb and flow, . 

And when my hope depends on them, 
I reel and stagger to and fro, 
And die amidst the dying frame." 

If it were best, all things considered, for us to know, 
in this life, we should know what amount of good is 
effected by the means we are directed to employ. But 
this does not concern us so much as to be found in the 
faithful discharge of our duty. The great day shall de- 
clare it, and then it will not be said, ** well done, thou 
great and successful," but "well done, thou good and 
faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
What we most need is to have the heart established with 
grace, that we may serve God acceptably, looking unto 
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Let us con- 
sider him as our example, righteousness and strength , 
thus having faith on the Son of God, we may commit 
our way unto the Lord and he will bring it to pass. 
Then shall we walk in the light of his countenance, and 
rejoice in the God of our salvation. The Lord help 
us to keep our attention fixed on this worthy object, this 
mark for the prize. Nor let us turn off our eyes to 
gaze, admire and speak of our shining graces, gifts, or 
attainments, lest the glorious Sun of righteousness be 
eclipsed to us, and we walk in darkness 

Such is the pride of man that it is congenial with the 
vanity of his mind to think more highly of himself than 
he ought to think. It is gratifying to the man of pride 
to consider himself of vast consequence in the king- 
dom of Christ, especially if he can fancy to himself 
the honour of being turnkey, to take into the kingdom 
and turn out whom he will. It will be natural for such 
an one to lord it over God's heritage, and to think that 
nothing is done well that is not done by his order or 
permission. 

Another institution must be mentioned, which has 
caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. About the 
j-ear 1790, Rev. T. Baldwin, then pastor of the second 



203 

Baptist Church in Boston, who was always ready to every 
good work, made a motion in the Warren Association, 
that a resolve pass in that body, that there should be an 
annual collection at the commencement of its sessions, 
for the relief of indigent widows and orphan children of 
deceased Baptist ministers, within the bounds of said As- 
sociation, which was cordially adopted and is continued 
to this day, and in all other Baptist Associations in the 
Eastern States, which have proceeded, directly or indi- 
rectly, from the Warren Association. In some of these 
bodies, besides granting timely supplies to the needy, 
the funds have increased to a considerable amount. 

I am deeply impressed with a grateful sense of the 
kindness of my brethren, friends and benefactors, who 
have cheerfully granted prompt assistance whenever I 
have let my straits be known, and who have, in many 
instances, prevented and surprised me with unexpected 
relief. The Lord reward them a thousand fold for all 
their kindness. 

Considering myself standing, as I do, upon the 
verge of time, and expecting soon to stand before my 
final Judge, where my motives will pass an impartial 
scrutiny, when the applause or disapprobation of erring 
mortals will be of little consequence to me, I have used 
plainness of speech on the preceding subjects, I have 
written for the generation to come. 



*;r 



